Just Keep Swimming

I love swimming. More than anything else I've ever done. More than singing. Yep, even more than singing. That's surprising even to me.

After last year with the knee and the stupid frakking blood clot, I didn't have confidence I'd get back to the speeds and lap counts I was used to (not that the speed was fast but it was something better than the craptacular sprints I clocked for the last 10 months). But since it was really the only exercise that wasn't painful and was fun at the same time, I kept going. It only took a full year but we are back in fighting form.

I only blab this to talk about the nice compliment I received after class tonight.

"How long have you been swimming"

"Five years with Donald"

"You're so good at it. You look so graceful. You make it look so easy"

Floored, I was. It's been a rough time in the water for me for all the reasons stated previously and I've been pretty discouraged so this little present from the universe was exactly what I needed after the meltdown I'd had this morning.

So thanks Universe, you always know how to help a gal keep pressing on.

I love swimming. More than anything.

Home Is Where The Pool Is

There is nothing more lovely, and striking to me than how the light dances in the pool on any sunny afternoon. I wish you could see what I see when I jump in and try to stay at the bottom for as long as I have breath and even a little bit more, to linger at the sunlight refracting and resonating a perfect blue-green.

If there was a word I'd have to use to describe it, it'd be joy. The only time I ever experience real, true, joyfulness, is this brief, beautiful moment. And I want to just stay there, underwater and watch the rays paint the best picture I've ever seen. (This view from the deck is pretty good but still doesn't do it justice.)

There is no back pain, no knee pain, no blood clot, no thought-ache in the water. For a moment, it heals me and frees me and I want to stay there forever. But instead I start to swim, catch a breath and count the laps. At 500 yards, the thinking returns and I try to figure out how to be better, how to be loveable, how to be someone else entirely.

I wish I were circling a point but I'm out of words I haven't said before.

I just wanted to talk about the beauty of the water.