Attacked by a napkin
From the porch
By Dwight Otwell

My daughter Vana faced the mighty Ocoee River and was delivered unscathed.

However, she was done in by a napkin from Hardees.

Vana, husband Mike and my granddaughters Nicole and Leah visited for the week and I went rafting with them on the Ocoee River. We rafted the calm Nantahala two years ago because Leah wasn't old enough for the more challenging Ocoee.

The Ocoee is home of the 1996 Olympic whitewater slalom races. The Ocoee has class III and IV rapids compared to Nantahala, which is composed of Class II rapids except for one Class III, called the Nantahala Falls.

I had rafted the Ocoee once before but it was the first time for Vana and family. Securing our battle armor (flotation device and helmet), we felt ready to engage the fast water and steep drop-offs that make the journey exciting.

The adrenalin, building up like at a floodgate as we waited to put our raft into the river, rushed over and through us as we almost immediately hit the first rapid.

Everyone helps with paddling and Vana did her share. There are enough fast rapids and long wave trains to keep the trip exhilarating. Although we certainly got wet, our raft didn't turn over. No one whacked anyone in the face with a paddle. Vana completed the whitewater adventure without sustaining a bruise.

However, on the way home, Vana and Mike decided to stop at Hardees for a drink of cold tea. I drove home with the two granddaughters.

We arrived at home first. When Vana and Mike came through the door, Vana was holding her face and was having difficulty keeping her eyes open.

While at Hardees, she somehow scratched an eye with a napkin.

That evening and the next day (her last before going home to Hampton, VA) she was clearly miserable. She even went to the emergency room but they could do little except to giver her some antibiotics.

Vana tried to be cheerful on her last evening here as we all, including my mother and father, went out to eat. But when you are in pain and can't stand bright light, it is hard to be in high spirits.

The good news is that on the morning they left for home, her eye was much better and she recovered quickly after that.

It just goes to show that you can never tell what is really dangerous. The bear in the woods may run away from you but that cute squirrel might give you a concussion by dropping an acorn on your head.

To comment on this article, e-mail Dwight at cherokeeeditor@ gmail.com.

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