What a beautiful morning. The
temperature is refreshing after the hot days of summer. It is cool outside these
doors. Passing through the front door the sun warms the skin and shines brightly
in a sky made bluer than usual with its absence of clouds. The depth of color
lightens to a pastel shade as it comes to rest atop the multicolored treetops.
The lake spreads out before me sparkling a welcome for a bracing swim in its
receding warmth left over from summer's intensity.
Yes. I think I will. With
that I strip away the confines of warmth and plunge through the mirrored
surface. There is warmth retained, but it is still a shock to the system. I
break the surface and let out a hoop. The center of the lake beckons and I swim
toward it.
The tension of the week begins to wash away with each stroke. I
had skipped the morning shower ritual to step out into the world on this bright
morning so felt, too, the grime of the past day slip away. So refreshing, I
thought, to glide along in this clear mountain lake and have the layer of
yesterday physically slide away--nature's loving touch to renew.
Swimming
without thought other than the feelings rising and falling with the rhythm of
the overhand stroke. The lake's placidity was disappearing with unnoticeable but
deliberate change. Slowly it began a counterclockwise movement. I continued to
swim toward the center.
Each time my hand dipped into the water to pull
forward the layer of grime dissolved into the surrounding water. I began to
notice the circular movement of the water when I lifted my head to check my
direction. The shore I had left was no longer behind me but to my left, the
distance farther than my limited swimming ability would allow. Undertow I
thought. Maybe a good idea to return now.
I turned to the shore spotting my
clothes heaped along the sand. Hmmm, that's farther than I thought. I pull
harder with each stroke and each time I look up the shore is in a different
direction. Now I see my clothes angled to my right. What gives? Two more
strokes. Lifting my head I see nothing familiar so I stop and look behind me.
They are there but moving away from my sight...I'm moving in a circle here. The
circular movement has become very obvious. I look to the center of the lake to
see the beginning of a funnel dipping into the center of the lake as if the plug
were pulled. The water rushes around me pulling me more rapidly in the counter
clockwise. I notice my body has begun to dissociate. Not only has the dirt and
grime of the past day floated out into the huge body of water but my substance
has begun to float away. No pain, no anguish, it's as if the glue that holds
this package I call me had begun to dissolve like so many sugar molecules
loosing themselves from the central cube dropped into a cup of coffee.
Afraid? No, just fascinated with the process. I watch as I begin to mingle
with the water. Molecule by molecule I detach and float into the middle of the
funnel at the center of the lake.
The lake is placid again. I have begun to
accept my dissolution. I'm part of this huge body of water. Another component
still conscious of who I was, who I am but even that begins to slough away
memory by memory.
Oh, look. There's light creeping into the overhead. I hope
I reflect it well. It feels warm.
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