Flukes

Sometimes there's a story on the news that's partially tragic, partially heroic and to my demented humor, hysterically funny. Last week after workout, the girlfriends and I watched an interview with a man who survived a bowling ball crashing through the windshield of his 18-wheeler. His wife was sleeping in the back. Although he was battered and bruised, he's ok. When the camera panned out, one of the girlfriends said, "It looks like he swallowed the bowling ball."

This week, there was a tragic para sailing accident. The wind was crazy and two girls were slammed into rocks or something. Yes, it's horrible that one of the girls died but IT WAS A FLUKE! Thousands of people para sail everyday. I'm the biggest weenie ever and I've done it twice. I've signed the consent form for the baby to do it and he promptly proclaimed it, "Boring." Now the mother is trying to get some legislation passed to regulate para sailing. The oldies commented that this sounds like a good idea. I disagree for three reasons:

1. We are so over-regulated.
2. Most para sailing happens on vacation. Mexico, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, etc. Our legislation has zero impact there.
3. Some personal (or parental) responsibility has to come into play. I don't need Congress to tell me that para sailing is not the wisest idea when the winds are crazy.

Flukes happen. It's awful, but true. I would not wish the pain of losing a child on anyone but we do not need new legislation. Set up a foundation. Donate an organ. Endow a chair in her name. Set up a scholarship. Organize a run/walk in her honor. Do anything except take up time that could be used to solve some of the serious problems in this country. Para sailing doesn't make the top 100.

Next we might draft some legislation about bowling balls.