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Two Wills, One Canoe
by Ellen Kanner

Excerpts:

       Benjamin and I capsized the first time we canoed. We’d put in at the launch site along Florida’s Loxahatchee River, paddling easily in pale morning light, but then the river picked up speed and narrowed. We found ourselves scooped up by the small but rapid-enough rapids and heading straight for a great, gnarled cypress. We had to go either left or right and not much time to choose.
       Two independent people, we each chose. Alas, we each neglected to inform the other of our decision and plowed straight into the cypress. I think it still has the scar. What happened to us was much more dramatic. I felt a tremendous impact, then a sort of roller coaster action as we flipped and dumped into the water. Then I felt wet. And stupid.water.
       Our lunch sank and Benjamin mourned its loss. My sunglasses disappeared in the brackish water.
       Our trial by water was no surprise. We were dating then, clumsily eager to please each other, but very much two wills in one canoe. Fortunately, the Loxahatchee isn’t deep where we capsized, only as high as my waist and Benjamin’s thighs. We retrieved our paddles and waterlogged towels. We turned the canoe to get the water out, then righted it. Again, we had two choices -- give up or go forward . . .
      

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