Some days there are blog posts that I write that I just absolutely love, Monday’s post about Mermet Springs tends to be one of those posts that ranks towad the top of my favorite list. I’m not trying to break my arm patting myself on the back or anything, but I just really liked that post. But enough about Monday because it is Wednesday and that means it is time to meet another diver. Today’s diver is Rhonda Lassley, who is the sister to our very own Carlene La Due. Now this post is going to break a cardinal sin because there are no pictures to go along with Rhonda’s interview. I thought about trying to draw a smiley face so there’d at least be a picture, but just because my great grandpa came to this country from Greece as an artist, None and I mean NONE of his artistic ability. I feel my artistic ability comes in the form of photographs and again, I’m not trying to break my arm patting myself on the back. But this blog post is not about me, it’s about Rhonda. Now a quick story about Rhonda’s grandson before we get to her interview:
At the 2013 Safari Hunt, Aerielle Cupp and I were helping with the kids while the adults were off doing the Safari Hunt. One of the adults came back up with an elephant and gave it to Rhonda’s grandson, Gary. The kids were tossing the elephant around in the swim beach area and dropped it. Gary asked for help to find the elephant. Just as Aerielle found the elephant and asked what she would get for retrieving it, Gary lost his shoe and yelled, “MY SHOE!” It was just perfect timing. It sounded like she would get his shoe as her prize for finding the elephant. And here we are 2 years later, anytime anyone says the phrase, My Shoe, we yelle “MY SHOE!” In true Gary fashion.
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a few times… we have lots of fun around these parts, with this group of people. Now I bring you Rhonda’s interview sans picture.
The start of our interview went something like this…
Hi, can I interview you for the Scuba Blog?
You don’t want to interview me, I’m the person that will scare people off from scuba diving.
No you won’t, people like you will help people who might be nervous see that other’s were nervous at one time too.
And now the interview:
How did you get started diving?
I was forced into it.
How long have you been diving?
2002
How many dives do you make in a typical year?
2 maybe
What other hobbies do you have?
Reading
Where is your favorite place to dive?
Florida Keys
What is your most comical dive experience?
We did our training at Ten Killer lake. There is a bench at 20 feet down that the students had to sit on. That’s where you did your skills. I had a panic attack. So I tapped the instructor and said bye bye and I went to the top. I got to the top and I looked at him and I told my husband I’m getting a divorce and I’m not doing this. Then a calming feeling came over me and I set on the shore for 10 minutes. The head instructor took me back down (I’m not sure how) and he convinced me to go back into it and got me certified doing my skills at 5 feet. I was to the point I was breathing in a paper sack the night before because I didn’t want to do it.
What is your occupation?
Housewife
Words of wisdom/tips or tricks for fellow divers?
Make sure it is something you truly want to do before you do it. If you don’t enjoy it you’ll never truly enjoy it. This is a sport you can do at 100 years old so it’s a great sport to get in to.