Touching the Water

Lately I've been overstressed at work, but I took off early the other day. I was just going to have lunch somewhere, but I turned left instead of right and I found myself heading to Walden.

It had been more than a month since I touched the water.  And even thought I had been driving by on a regular basis, I felt like it wasn't enough.  And I felt it in my body.

But just being able to go down, and to see Mike R there, in his wetsuit, in the 34 degree water, and the water looking friendly with sunlight, I felt calmed and taken to a familiar place which in my business mind, i had forgotten.  It is too easy to get distracted by this world, with all the details and anxieties calling out to you.

But go and touch the water. And SWIM if you dare!!!

Wet suit swimming!!

I swam Nov 15, 50 degrees in air and in water.

Things were fine, although I didn't have a swim shirt. Took getting used to. Swimming in clothes and socks and covering. Was concerned when my stomach felt warm!  Stood up & was ready to get out, but I was fine fine.

Didn't go all the way across, but halfway, past Red Cross beach and then across the Main Beach. 

Someone asked how the water was, I told him to come on in!! 

Ran into Mike, the Ice Splitter, he said I should be fine fine. ;)

Swam the latest & Coldest!!

Oct 19, 54 degrees, fast!!

The air temp was 80 during the day, so fair weather friend indeed! 

Trees were beautiful.

Already missing my favorite spot/view in the world. 

From the center of the pond.

Walden on September 17

So far this year, I swam on September 17.

I was headed to NYC for the next few weeks, so I'm still hoping for a nice bright, warm day or two.  And for my cold water tolerance to build up.

Also, I saw Lynne Cox at the Harvard Bookstore.

She swam in 26 degree water, Swimming to Antartica.

She's an inspiration.

When the Water Feels Delicious

She swims when the air is getting cold, but the water has trapped the temperature of the sunny days.

If the water is clear enough, she will swim across enjoying every sensation.

If she were to take drugs to enhance her sensitivity, this is when she would do it.

She's not a smoker or drinker and is not addicted to anything else.  Except maybe coffee.  And frankly, if she has enough of it, all of her skin seems electrified.

It also makes her horny.

Another reason she likes to swim.

If it hasn't been mentioned yet in the story, let us reveal now that she reveals herself in the water.  She loves swimming in the nude, or at the very least removes her top whenever she can.

As far as she knows, she is alone.

White Pond

There is a pond, as clear as Walden, with fish which may or may not nibble at your toes.

Built around it are a series of houses, with their backs to the water.

We swam across to another beach.  Not bigger than Walden, deep but with no enchantment.

A rainy day visit.

Nothing I can imagine anyone writing a book about.

The Pond Takes Away All Anger

Even when I don't imagine I have the strength, I find that I can swim.

The water may seem to be cold, but often it is warmer than the air. 

I had one of those heart stopping moments as I checked my phone before I left it in the car.  Richard was leaving me.

We aren't together. It was that I suddenly had a greater responsibility for something. It could turn great and eventually I was glad it happened. 

But that moment, the bottom had dropped out.

Dive in and be like Greta Garbo at the end of Anna Christie. Look out over the water and think of nothing. 

Absolutely nothing. 

It took me some effort to get out into the middle of the Pond. But it was nothing to get back.

And I came back stronger.

Fairyland Pond

Maybe there are some Ponds that are not meant to be disturbed.

Not quite big enough, or deep enough to swim across.

Unless you are not human.

Leave it for the geese and ghosts.

NEW VERSION: SCAB!

Another variation on the Tech Workplace Experience of a woman.

Dreaming of Swimming

I had a dream the other night that I was swimming in the ocean. In the ocean just off the Azores, Praia.

I wrote a poem about it, because it was such a strong feeling.  Also like getting lost in the sheets, your whole body floating, but this dream was about the waves, how they make you fly.  How Sergio's first memories of the water was making you feel like you were a superhero.

I still swim in Brooklyn, almost every other day, at least 3 days a week.  In a life that I love.

Looking at the water, it doesn't seem especially clear, I know that I pee in it and I swim around my period, I can just imagine all the other things that other people bring into the pool water.  But there is a certain amount of bacteria that I imagine helps me to ward off illnesses by exposing me to dangers.

Lynne Cox, Swimmer

Have I mentioned that I am in contact with Lynne Cox??

At least on FB, we've been messaging.

She's swum to Antarctica.  And it's the name of her book.

I miss swimming in Brooklyn. Regularly.

There are other pools, but I miss nature.....

Her Being Alone in the House

She was left alone.  Which was fine with her.

The swimsuit was pretty much in shreds, and all she had was the old jacket of his.  At least he was kind enough to keep her from being cold.

Other than the collar around her neck, she was able to examine her bruises in complete isolation.

She was able to walk around the house, after the shower, and investigate.  She even attempted leaving.  The alarms were on, no matter what she opened.  And she was certain there were cameras as well.

But she got a tremendous shock everytime she tried to pass any threshold.  The basement windows, the front door.  And it was a constant shock, not merely a fleeting boundary.

She was also able to see the fences which bordered the yard.  Which was large, and surrounded by hedges and trees. The steel and barbed wire formed a circle around the entire yard.  The fence only opened from the control in his car (SHE ASSUMED)

She was trapped.
She knew it, and she knew that he would know her state of mind.  That's why he was being so gentle, he knew he had time.
And that she would panic eventually.

Or, based on his hesitation last night, he might be a human, after all.

He had her in a submissive position, literally.  She was practically naked, and if he had wanted to assault her then, it was a perfect opportunity.

In fact, in her mind, she had already accepted that fact.  She had been preparing her mind, digging up past unsuccessful boyfriends and dental visits.  Keep a smile and bear through it.
Say whatever he wanted, even if it meant being quiet and sensitive.
He had done all this to get her, after all.
What did he think, that this would endear him to her??

He obviously did.

The night before, he hesitated, awkwardly. WHY??
He couldn't maintain an erection.
They both laughed.
They were both tired.
He was NICE to her.
He was terrified himself.
They ALMOST acted like a couple
(Was this the syndrome where she identified with her captor?)

She looked around for weapons, anyway.

She found rope and a few knives.  She cut the rope so that it was weakened at every 5 feet.
==

That left her with 4 approaches/conclusions, and they all overlapped.

1. She should be terrified
2. She should play romantic to get out alive
3. She should feel him out because he plans to keep her trapped for a while
4. He is going to kill her as soon as he gets back