Friday, November 30, 2018

NaNo again

The picture still holds up after all these years!

I LOVE looking at it

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Was I the evil one?

Even when we were young, I felt like I was always trying to encourage him.

I had such a crush.  He was like my brother, I wanted to open all my doors to him. I wanted to be NICE.

We would go for walks in the woods. 

Sure, you can take your camera.  You should!

And sometimes, I'd get into the water.

There was a great shot of me, pulling my hair out of the water with a great snap of my neck, a reverse rainbow-a wheel of water in an arc. My long hair a paintbrush into the sky.

He liked the way I looked in the water.

And I wanted to make him smile.

But I swear he never touched me.  I know because I wanted him to.

When they took him away, I ran alongside the van and he wouldn't even look at me.

I hoped there was a LOT of stuff I didn't know about.  But I was never sure.

He could have been a murderer.  He could have tried to hurt or kill himself, or threaten something or someone.  My parents never told me why he had to go. But it must've been something horrible.

In the 28 years, I still haven't guessed.

How do you imagine evil coming from the person you love.  The FIRST person you loved. If we had been able to talk, to discuss it, I might have gotten over him.  But I've never wanted to reach for another man (or woman).  And I never told our secrets.

But I keep swimming.  Because he liked it when I swam.  And maybe someday, he'll be on the shore when I get out.  There's a song "I walk a little faster", and I always sing "I swim a little faster".  Because the faster I swim, the sooner I'll get to him.




Sunday, September 30, 2018

Sept 17 Swimming

My most recent (and hopefully not LAST) swim of the summer was Sept 17, although I was at the shore on another beautiful, sunny day, when the water was STILL warmer than the air (9/26).

The water is always the best, silkiest and most amazing in the world!

Friday, August 31, 2018

Swimsuits Going Out of Business

My favorite swimsuit company is going out of business.

https://shop.sorellaswim.com/cart

They had models known as the Marilyn, Lana and also Ginger.  Carried in all shapes and sizes, at least my size. Beautiful and glamorous. Finally I was comfortable in a swimsuit. I laugh at what I used to consider decent-I was glad I spent most of my time in the water with them.

I wish I had needed to order suits more often.


Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Swimming Forever

Sometimes there are days when you can swim forever.

When the silkiness of the water meets your body like a dream.  You resent the weight and gravity of air when you have to emerge.

It's the most beautiful dance, the most elegant substance.  You float, you fly.

You never want to get out.

Saturday, June 30, 2018

Mutual Admiration Society

The BEST situations are around Mutual Admiration Societies.

It might not always be equitable, but it is important to come from a place of respect and enjoyment of the other person's talents.  Winning an award, one should always be gracious and effusive in thanks.

Winning and maintaining friendships, it is important to determine comfort levels of communication, how to ensure that you've made a secure bond and how to keep it going.

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Getting into the Water, the First Time in Spring

Some days you ease into the water slower than others. 

Sometimes there are other people in front of you, laughing off the cold.  And then there are the people behind you, like you once were, hesitant and tiptoeing in, afraid in their new old versions of themselves, soon to be replaced in the series.

You have it down.  You walk in, as far as you dare, at least to your waist. And then have your hands in, wet your arms, touch the cold to your face.  Sprinkle it down your own back.  Tease yourself into the cold.

Tease yourself as long as you dare, but at some point, it'll only get better when you dive in. Whole body, none of this saving your hair or keeping your head above the water.  Just give in. Let the water take you like a fish.

You can swim all the way across, even if you tell your mother that you only went halfway.  Just swim twice as fast. (less than 1:30 min 5:15 to 6:30ish) 

Somehow, you go faster on a hot day.