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Something in the water Much Too Close for ComfortBy Rick Horowitz
Once upon a Carolina shoreline, three happy vacationers were frolicking deep in the Atlantic surf, cooling themselves on a summer's afternoon, when they noticed off in the distance two of their friends waving to them from the water's edge. The three in the water waved back, but the two at the water's edge kept on waving. At some point, the three in the water came to realize that the two at the water's edge weren't waving side-to-side: "Hi! How's it going?" They were waving front-to-back: "Get out of there! Now!!" The three in the water abandoned the frolicking and swam for shore as fast as their frantic arms and legs could carry them. Could carry us. Somebody had seen a fin. Nobody was sure exactly what kind of fin it was. Then again, nobody thought it made much sense to wait around to find out. Might-have-been was plenty, thank you, then and ever since. Just so we're clear here: I know the difference between facts and feelings. When it comes to sharks, though, it just doesn't matter. Especially this time around. Here are some facts I know: I know that, scary magazine covers notwithstanding, there's been no great increase this year in the number of shark attacks. In fact, there's been no increase at all. Compared to last year, the number of shark attacks is down -- down worldwide, and down in the United States. Compared to an average recent year, the number of shark attacks this year is...average. Another fact: If the average number of shark attacks in recent years is up compared to earlier years, that's mostly because many more people are going into the ocean in areas that sharks occasionally call home. So while the chances of some shark encountering some human may have increased, that doesn't make your own chance of running into a shark any better -- which is to say, any worse -- than it's ever been. Which is to say, microscopic. Another fact: According to the authorities, the young boy killed in Virginia over Labor Day weekend was the first shark fatality ever recorded in Virginia. Ever. And the young man killed in North Carolina over Labor Day weekend was the first shark fatality recorded there since 1957. Those are the facts. So why don't I feel safe? Why -- especially these past few days -- am I feeling so apprehensive about my next trip to the ocean? Because of this one other fact: I was there. On my last trip to the ocean. It was barely a month ago: I was back on a North Carolina beach. And not just anywhere in North Carolina, but in Avon, North Carolina, which is exactly where the deadly attack on the young man and his fiancee took place. And not just on the same beach -- apparently I was standing on the very same sandbar they were on when they were attacked, and at practically the same time of day! True, I only went out there once -- when the tide was right, it wasn't more than 40 feet from shore -- and I didn't stay very long. But some of my housemates were out there practically every day, and they were in no hurry to leave. Two of my housemates, two of my friends, brought their little girl on vacation with them, and she was right out there on the sandbar, too, jumping the waves and learning to ride a boogie board and having a great time. We were all having a great time. The water was shallower at the sandbar. It was safer there. Was the shark there, too? I'll never know. But I'll never stop wondering. Posted 9/11/01. Rick
makes waves twice a week right here -- spread the word!
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Rick Horowitz
