Author Archives: Mary McCormic-McInnis

There is a lot of rain falling down, down, down these days. And a lot of wind. Every day more leaves twirl and spin earthward, glistening with rain, rainbow colored, each one a perfectly formed postcard recounting the brilliance of summer, the stark blue skies, the happy swimsuits and boats and the warm scent ofContinue reading “November 10, 2021”

It’s hard to choose. Land or sea. But there is no choice, they both complete me. I require both to live. I love them both, entirely, like I love my two sons. They hold each other in balance, infinitely unique but forever and always connected. They dance together at the crossroads, the light within reflectingContinue reading “November 1, 2021”

Leave the land, go to sea Face down and with heart up Think south, but head north— Keep breathing, stop thinking Abandon fear, notice beauty Feel the water, forget the chill Be each wave, no direction, no destination Change form, stay fluid Accept change, reject loss For nothing is lost, really, just absorbed like theContinue reading “October 26, 2021”

There’s no life guard on duty here. And I suppose it’s alright since nobody seems to be swimming—except for maybe my neighbor, Dave. He always finds his way back in, snow and rain and arctic blasts be damned. I myself have been feeling a bit soft of late honestly, but felt the longing to swimContinue reading “October 22, 2021”

“Oh the leaves on the trees they all bow down to you—branches and ranch hands are bowin’ too—and i’ve taken off my straw hat for you—singin’ here comes the sun again” From ”Here comes the Sun Again” by M. Ward Songs on water. I guess it’s really no surprise to me that tonight after myContinue reading “October 17, 2021”

There my feet, and there an arc of red wool sweater waiting for a ferry Hovering above the sea grows one tiny fern, boldly clinging to life on a ridge of concrete The silent scream is saltwater, crystal clear it polishes every single rock, the palette deafening in its beauty I am taunted to returnContinue reading “October 14, 2021”

Take your time It took time, plenty of time in fact, to wedge my body into my neoprene selkie suit the other day. I had hemmed and hawed over whether or not to pull out my wetsuit and matching cap that have been hanging dry now since last April in our laundry closet. There isContinue reading “October 7, 2021”

We often miss the details A paw on a leaf upon some misshapen pebbles and crushed shell, color upon color The flutter and flash of cedar leaves dried and orange-red falling fast upon the ground like rain—summer’s October carpet rolled out just as the wet winds blow in, turning the sea wild as we ourselvesContinue reading “October 5, 2021”

Morning time. My first swim of fall, and we struck out at 9am in the morning. It felt good and right to shake the summer routine of afternoon swims and welcome autumn in the bay on a glorious sunny morning. Not to say it wasn’t a struggle. Dave, too, prefers the afternoon himself and isContinue reading “September 25, 2021”

A few nights ago I drove to the road end at midnight to say goodbye to a friend. At band practice I learned that my former coworker, Kym, had just died. Unexpectedly, too early, barely 60. I hadn’t seen Kym in over a year, and it’s been almost three years since we worked together, takingContinue reading “September 29, 2021”