For me, the word kayak has always conjured up the sound your cat makes when trying to regurgitate a hair ball.

Recently, however, it has taken on a new meaning altogether. First, let me say that good balance, finesse and flexibility have not been among my personal attributes for many years, if ever.

I have admired those who slip into a kayak and slide gracefully across the lakes and down the rivers of our incredible New York North Country.

I've always wanted to try kayaking, but never had the opportunity.

As a Boy Scout I earned a canoeing merit badge, learning how to right an overturned craft, dump the water out and climb aboard. If I tried it now, the fish would have a new visitor.

I rowed crew for three years at Stony Brook and enjoyed the experience.

Since then, I've been known to try many oddball activities. Up until the Fourth of July weekend, kayaking was not one of them.

FLOWER CHILD

I never saw a kayak with as wide a beam as mine and thought to myself, "If I ever manage to squeeze this opulent frame into one of those long, skinny things, how would I ever get out should it roll over?"

Sunday, July 6, 2008, is a day that shall live in infamy. Our daughter Diane and her husband, Roger, invited Kaye and me to their delightful camp on Chazy Lake. With other family members, we enjoyed everything about the perfect summer day. Good food, great company and a fabulous lake vista made for an exceptional combination.

The last time we were there, Diane told me to bring my bathing suit and she would teach me how to kayak. Sometimes, I follow directions, and so we went in search of a new pair of swimming shorts.

After Omar the Tentmaker turned me down, saying he didn't have enough material to stitch a pair, Kaye led me into one of her favorite local stores and the quest began.

It took awhile to find a pair with enough Xs, but we were ultimately successful. When Kaye held them up to see if they were big enough, I think they blotted out the sun.

She made me go into the dressing room and try them on. The fit was perfect, thanks to Velcro on the front.

She read the attached card when we got home. She said, "Hey, Gordie, these are magic trunks. See this picture? When you get them wet, flowers appear."