Alcatraz Escape Buoys Spirits

by Woody

STRAW_CoverWoody’s highly anticipated new book “STRAWBERRIES IN WINTERTIME: Essays on Life, Love, and Laughter” is NOW available! Order your signed copy HERE! 

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Brief ‘Escape’ from Tragic Numbness

Back and forth, forth and back I pondered: do I write about The Latest Mass Shooting In America or do I not?

After all, my words run on the Op-Ed pages. On the other hand, for the most part I try to make my column an uplifting retreat.

Back and forth. I actually began writing a column leading off with my Facebook post from Sunday morning: “Numbness on top of numbness on top of numbness. My heart weeps for the Orlando victims and for young singer Christina Grimme and for every victim of gun violence daily in America, in classrooms and in churches, in nightclubs and in movie theaters, in and in, on and on.”

My remarkable friend Nate Higgins

My remarkable friend Nate Higgins

Then I had a change of mind. I decided to write about something else that happened last Sunday morning, not at 2 a.m. on the East Coast but at 6:30 a.m. on the West Coast; with texts and a phone call not of terror, but of triumph; a brief escape from the heart-numbing sorrow via the “Escape from Alcatraz” swim in hand-numbing frigid water.

Here is a text my friend Nate sent me Saturday night: “Regardless of what happens tomorrow morning, I’m most proud of the preparation I’ve made. Anything can happen on race day.”

Later, this text: “If my stroke is good and I don’t get hypothermia, and I time the current right, I think I have a good shot. Won’t be easy though.”

I first met Nate, now 31, a few years ago at a Thanksgiving dinner table. Ever since I have been thankful my son’s grad school classmate and friend is my friend as well.

I would like to say I have become a mentor to Nate, but the greater truth is he teaches and inspires me.

Here is an example of the example Nate sets: on the dawn boat ride out to Alcatraz Island, instead of focusing on his own daunting task ahead he encouraged others facing their own challenges.

Nate knows about challenges. He certifiably had more to overcome than any other of the 2,400 Alcatraz competitors for he was the only one who arrived for the swim in a wheelchair.

Twelve years ago, at age 19, Nate had a summer job painting houses. A fall resulted in a complete spinal cord injury at T2-T4 and left him a paraplegic.

A former high school wrestler – and track and cross-country runner – Nate refused to be pinned on the mat by the tragedy. He turned his athletic energies to becoming a Paralympic swimmer and has represented the U.S at the Parapan American Games among other lofty competitions.

As fiercely as he worked in the water, Nate also did so in the classroom. After graduating from Gonzaga University, he earned an MBA at USC in 2015 as a recipient of a “Swim With Mike” full-tuition scholarship for physically challenged athletes.

While his accident took much from him, Nate dedicates himself to giving. He speaks to youth groups; serves on a philanthropic board; and with no obligation to do so has made a personal commitment to repay his $160,000 “Swim With Mike” scholarship – he is a fourth of the way to success.

Nate was nervous if he would be successful in the 1.5-mile Alcatraz swim, but those who know him were confident he would punch a shark in the nose if required. Indeed, despite fierce currents that pushed him far off course and water choppy enough to make a seal seasick, Nate persevered.

“I have never had to dig this deep in an open water swim,” Nate said, his voice on the phone buoyant. “I am really proud of the resolve I showed. This was, without a doubt, the most difficult swim I’ve ever done.

“That being said, our journey is only as good as those we have the privilege of spending it with. The success I enjoyed today was simply a byproduct of so many friends, family, and mentors that have been there through thick and thin.”

Humble and heroic. Now you know why I call him “Nate the Great.”

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Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.

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