So, I married a diver...

In September of 2001, I married a diver. Actually, at the time that we married he was still a student. We had no concept of the life he had signed up for. A pleasurable scuba dive in clear waters hardly compares to the rigors of the riggers (I have been dying to use that one). Kris had not worn a dive hat, he had not welded under water, nor had he ever dove deep enough to require breathing anything other than the air we breathe on land. In fact, even at this point in his career, Kris is still considered a dive-tender and not a diver. But, being a diver is not really about your job title. You are either born a diver, or you're not.

It became obvious at an early age that Kris possessed the unique (read: insane) qualities inherent in all divers. When Kris was a child, he used to hold his breath in the bathtub. Surely this is not an unusual behavior, you might say (if you talked like that). The difference is that Kris would not come up for air until he reached that peak moment when his brain kicked out the endorphins one receives just before he or she drowns. More than once, his mother entered the bathroom in a panic at the sight of her son lying under the water only inches from death.

And this is the man I married.

Divers are a fascinating breed. They live with true passion and conviction. I think it comes with the knowledge that they have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. They actually rank second in the "Two Bricks Shy Of A Load" competition. Ranked number one, in case you are curious, is crab fishing in Alaska. Apparently the crabs are not too eager to be fished. At any rate, divers risk death every time they go out on a job, and they live their lives accordingly (i.e. drink like there is no tomorrow).

Of course, being married to a diver has its perks: The upside is that Kris pursues me with the same passion I spoke of earlier. The downsides (note the use of the plural indicator "s") are worthy of individual attention. In fact, there are enough to fill a blog. And I think I will...