Thank You, Lake

Air Temp 54, Water Temp 54

Today at the lake it was drizzly and grey. The water was glassy. It hardly made a sound when it touched the beach. 

There were cars in the parking lot, but I couldn’t see people. Maybe one or two walkers.  I didn’t swim yesterday, which is my usual day, but I was glad my home aide, K, likes to take me swimming. She waits until I’m done, then she jumps in just in her swimsuit. Then we shower together and marvel at the view. 

I was happy to be in my transition wetsuit even though it is quite challenging to get on and off. I love wearing it, though, because it’s so stretchy and thin that I feel free in the water. I even tried to swim crawl today several times. 

I need to get some coaching on my stroke because I can’t maintain swimming crawl. I get so exhausted. I don’t understand why swimming breast stroke is so much easier. I can go slowly if I need to. With crawl I don’t really know how to swim slowly, and it’s hard to keep track of all the movements I have to make. Ugh. 

Letting Go – For Reals

The water was pretty murky once I left the shallow area, so no sunbeam meditations today. Instead I swam south, then turned around and swam back to the cement dock. I did that several times, alternating between breast stroke and crawl. I remembered to stop and float a few times, too. 

It’s amazing to experience fully letting go, really releasing all tension and control, and trusting the water and neoprene to support me. It feels like a miracle, but it’s quite simple. Also, not a bad thing to keep in my consciousness – that I have support in my life. 

I got confused in the water because I didn’t hear my alarm even though it felt like I’d been in the water for a long time. Finally, my alarm went off (Depeche Mode), and I was thinking it had only been 20 minutes. I swam a bit longer even though I was exhausted. Then when I got out of the water K said I’d been in for almost 45 minutes. A record. No wonder I was so tired, and why the F can’t I figure out how to set alarms on my iPhone? 

I had to use my transition mat to get my wetsuit off, so I was glad the park was empty. I’m must look like a drunken walrus wrestling that thing off my body. I was on my back with my legs in the air. Cray. 

K waded into the lake to do a quick dunk, then met me at the showers. Then she went back for a second dip, and asked me to join. I said, “no f-ing way.” We both laughed. I love the water, but only in a wetsuit. 

After we went to my house so I could change, then we drove around delivering May baskets. Because that’s the kind of women we are.

Happy Spring!!!!!!