A scared (but now grateful) wife

A few weeks back, at the beginning of this gorgeous weather streak we've been having, we decided to take the kayak out for a spin (the three of us)----It was the perfect day, and we were all excited to get out on the water. We got to the beach, and Jonas enjoyed playing in the sand and running full-speed into the chilly lake. I went out first in the boat, and then it was Jason's turn. Jonas and I had fun playing in the water, sitting/climbing on the lifeguard stand, doing our "exercises", (Jonas is really into exercising these days:) singing songs, taking some pictures, and, after awhile, eagerly waiting for Jason to come around the corner...but as time went on, the sun began setting, and I began wondering where Jason was. He knew that it would be getting dark soon and that Jonas and I were here on the beach waiting for him. Minutes passed....the sun set, and it was pretty much dark. It felt like he had been gone for hours. It was getting cold too----this was not like my responsible husband. He wouldn't forget about us, plus, he had no other way home since the ropes and rack were on the van for the kayak. I'm not sure how you other wives are, but I tend to think the worst whenever he is late coming home, and this time was no exception----I had no cell phone and no keys to the car (as they were with him). Jonas and I just sat there waiting as several other kayakers came around the bend, and with each one, I hoped it would be Jason. Well, he never showed up. Ugh I thought---he probably flipped and hit his head or something awful----but what to do?? My stomach was in knots. He should have worn a helmet! What can we do? Thoughts began jumbling my brain as darkness began to settle around us. I could start walking home, but that would have taken awhile----then I thought about asking someone if I could borrow their cell phone so I could call Jason, and if that didn't work, the police. As Jonas and I started meandering from the beach toward a payphone for which I had no quarters, I saw across the grass, a familiar car pull up and Michael get out. He slammed the door and came running across the wide lawn as fast as he could waving his arms...."Oh no. He's dead" I thought, and my heart sank into my feet. What a DISGUSTING feeling. The world seemed hazy and I began thinking about what must have happened. As Michael got closer, I heard him yell, much to my relief.... "He's okay, he's okay." Deep breath. Exhale. Praise the Lord. "Your husband is an idiot" he said. "What?' I replied. He went on to explain. Apparently Jason had seen a creek at the end of the lake and had decided to check it out only to find several rapids that took him to a point where he could no longer paddle back....he paddled and paddled until he had found a spot where he could somehow scramble out of the water and up the steep bank with the boat on his shoulders. He had then walked to a familiar intersection and was waiting at the bus stop a few miles away for me to come pick him up, and he had given Michael the keys to the van. Whew!! He wasn't dead after all! I didn't even realize how tense and worried I had been until I got in the car and put my arms on the steering wheel and realized they were shaking. A wave of gratefulness at God's safekeeping came over me as well as the desire to just burst into tears and laughter----it was a funny....but so many other emotions were swirling through my head, that it was hard to know exactly what I thought. It was so good to finally see him, standing alone in the dark at the bus stop on a busy corner with his kayak on the grass beside him. He never looked so handsome. He gave me that, "I'm so sorry honey look", and I just opened the door, ran to him and gave him a huge hug. He smelled so good (wet and sweaty all the same), and we both began laughing. What a good reminder this little adventure was to me of how much I love this man! Needless to say, we have learned our lesson and will be much more prepared in the future (I should just tape my cell phone to myself whenever he goes out on the water!).