It was definitely our most successful from a fund-raising standpoint, exceeding, as this is written, our goal of raising $60,000 by over $5,000. But it was much more than this.

It was 11 year old Rebekah Rowe, there for the fifth straight year, speaking publicly for the second year in a row, despite still recovering from a bout with pneumonia.

It was all of the other young people, Rebekah’s age or younger, who weren’t there just to watch but who went in the water with all of the rest of us.

It was the numbers taking part despite the below-freezing temperatures and the snow and ice on the beach stones that we had to walk over to get into the Potomac River. It was inspiring to look down the beach as we started into the water and see what looked like twice as many fellow plungers this year as last, upwards of 200.

It was all the volunteers and CCAN staff members who pitched in, doing all the small but important things which, together, added up to a smooth-flowing event.

It was the presence of the NBC News TV camera, a reminder that these plunges always receive media coverage and help spread the word about CCAN and the need for action to keep winter cold.

And it was the great spirit throughout, including in McLoone’s restaurant afterwards. Hundreds of us filled this riverside space, enjoying drinks, food and one another’s company for a couple of hours post-plunge.

Plunge 2013 is going to be a hard act to follow next winter, but I’m sure we’ll figure something out as we keep building a kick-ass climate movement in the Md./DC/Va. region.