As an experience junkie, I value unusual and ridiculous opportunities. Hence, the chance to sit in a dunk tank this past weekend -- since I had never done it before and will probably never do it again -- was right up my alley.
Although I have good intentions, at this point in my life I'm unable to be as politically active in my neighborhood, Riverwest, as I would like to be. But, I do what I can, and when the Riverwest Neighborhood Association (RNA) asked me to sit in their fundraising dunk tank for 20 minutes during Center Street Daze, I was happy to do my part.
About two hours before I was scheduled to sit in the tank -- I started my shift at 4:20 p.m., which is funny to some people and you know who you are -- I thought about what I would wear. I considered the obvious swimsuit option, but then remembered I had a nurse's costume somewhere from a mid-'90s Halloween party.
The costume was easier to find then I thought it would be, and once I tried it on and decided I looked OK in it, I decided to wear it. Wearing a costume to sit in a dunk tank during Center Street Daze keeps with the "anything goes" spirit of Riverwest, and it also allowed me to make jokes about being a "wet nurse." (Bah-dum-dum.)
Luckily, the weather was amazing on Saturday, and as I walked into the festival in my nurse's costume, I got a lot of smiles and nods. My friend Melissa was sitting in the tank when I arrived, getting dunked three or four times in a five-minute period. I guess I didn't realize I was going to go down quite so many times.
In a 20-minute shift, I did take the plunge at least 10 times, probably closer to 15 or 20, but I lost count. I had one nasty water-up-the-nose situation, but for the most part, it was really fun, albeit unnerving when the ball is in mid-throw and I didn't know if I was taking the plunge or not.
The best part of the experience was getting to heckle the ball throwers, and saying things that I have never said before (and will most likely never say again) like "you couldn't hit the broadside of a barn!" and "nice try, rubber arms!" and "bet it isn't the first time you couldn't get a nurse wet!" (Doh!)
All in all, it was a good experience -- one I will definitely never forget. Next time I volunteer for the RNA, however, I think I'll just stuff envelopes.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
