If there were an official holiday to celebrate Long Beach, Super Bowl Sunday would be it, and the annual Polar Bear Plunge would be the official celebration. No matter how many years I go to watch (yes, watch) this outstanding coming together of our community, my heart never fails to swell. The sheer number of people who strip to their skivvies -- no matter how bitterly cold -- to raise money for Make a Wish Foundation and to share in the community comraderie is mind-boggling. Standing on a bench just west of the ramp at Edwards Blvd., it appeared that literally thousands of bathers and their cheerleaders blanketed the beach clear down to Riverside Blvd. It was a truly awesome sight to behold!
No less enthralling was the parade of characters up on the boardwalk. There were four young athletes in black speedos (
ahem) who turned heads coming and going. There was the polar bear in the bikini, topless Santa and legions of people in bathrobes, furry caps with paws and all manner of beachwear. And let's not forget the official Polar Bear uniform: Darryl and I were the ones in the sweatshirts, in case you saw us (LOL).
After walking the water line to oggle and admire the free and the brave, we strolled to the Allegria for post-plunge libations. Sitting by the lounge fireplace was something of a return to the scene of the crime, since we had been there the night before to attend the Polar Bear cocktail party. So it was a little bit of the hair of the dog, if you know what I mean.
Moving from there to our friends' annual Super Bowl party was the perfect end to a perfect day. Great food, great friends. Oh, did someone say football? Was that on the line up, too?
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