Category Archives: Uncategorized

Frozen in time…..and water. The fact that this picture exists is entirely thanks to my swim partner today, Christina. Not only did she delight in and endure the shock of ice water with me, but she managed to coax me in first by offering to take my picture. I am quite certain that I wouldContinue reading “October 26, 2020”

Cold water makes me giddy. Within seconds. Today was a day of seconds. And giddiness. This was my second swim of the week, my second swim from Rockaway Beach and my second swim with Christina, a fellow mother whom I think may also be part selkie. I experienced the joy of sharing a swim withContinue reading “October 21, 2020”

I love roots. And waves. These roots are my sturdy, no nonsense ladder into and out of the head of Fletcher Bay. My friend Dave was the first to show me this secret entrance, a short but steep clamber down the muddy bank leading to (usually) still waters. This wild entry point is the thresholdContinue reading “October 17, 2020”

Swimming is quite literally making me lighten up. In the ways that matter. Oh, the roundness is staying put, at 47, the days of any weight loss are over. Thank goodness. Nature is making it clear that body changes happen, grey hairs sprout up as metabolism drops and there is no stopping time or theContinue reading “October 13, 2020”

“ Mary, I don’t have any brown fat!” Or so he thought. Today was the third and final open water swim class with my hearty middle schoolers. Frolicking was again the order of the day, punctuated by trips out through heavy chop and against a strong southern wind for leaps and flips off the float.Continue reading “October 9, 2020”

Rockaway. Today I ached for an adventure. Heavy hearted and feeling sluggish, I knew the cold would help but I needed more. I wanted a new view below the surface, the challenge of different terrain, the high excitement of exploring unchartered (by me) waters and the possibility of seeing different sea life. Full selkie suitContinue reading “October 5, 2020”

I am hereby (un) officially proclaiming October 2nd Salish Selkie Day. Yesterday, beneath a brilliant autumnal sun and blue skies, I coached my group of middle school swimmers through the rubbery wrestling match that is putting on a wetsuit. Excitement ran high as the kids slowly and clumsily donned these thick skins, with the promiseContinue reading “October 3, 2020”

A Poem The steps down to waters edge  Worn round by naked feet I go there to look And mark my days by strokes through icy water I am looking for something cast away Buried under my own dread Grieve a loss for what never was Only shadows of what may have been linger TheContinue reading “September 29, 2020”

Sometimes, pictures speak louder than words. This is one of them. And sometimes, if you are lucky, you will experience a few moments in your life—minutes long, or hours at best—when everything feels in perfect balance. When your spirit rises up and you feel utter delight, weightlessness, a clarity and rapture, a joyfulness that dissolvesContinue reading “September 27, 2020”