What the Sea Told Me

I haven't swum in 49 years

At Cosy Corner just after my first swim in 49 years. Oh what a feeling! Photo by Rob.

As many of you know, I’ve written a book called What My Garden Told Me (available on Amazon). I recently completed another one called What the Wind Told Me, which will soon be published. And now I’m jotting down notes for the next book, which will be called:

What the Sea Told Me

As Rob and I strolled at sundown along the beach at Cosy Corner, I talked about my ideas for this book about the sea.

‘How is the sea going to talk to you?’ Rob asked.

‘I’ll just walk beside it like I always do,’ I blithely replied. ‘Like I’m doing now. I’ll look at it and listen to it and think about it, then write down what it said.’

‘It won’t work that way,’ he replied. ‘If you want the sea to tell you things, you have to get into it.’

I was horrified!

‘No, no! I’m sure I can pick up subtle but important messages from the shore.’

I haven’t entered the water for forty-nine years. In all that time, only my ankles had felt the tickle of chilly waves. The idea of total immersion alarmed me. I doubted I’d survive.

Plus, I love hot, hot showers and my idea of a swimsuit is one that starts at my neck and ends in a lacy trim at my knees, a style that hasn’t been available since the early 1800s.

For several days I argued back and forth with myself until I finally admitted Rob was right.

The truth of his words sunk in.

It was time for me to go in.

A Message from the Sea

I ordered a modest two-piece swimsuit online, quickly put it on when it arrived, and checked myself in the long mirror. Unfortunately, it fitted. I couldn’t send it back and delay the moment that every bit of skin I have would get the shock of its elderly life.

The Bureau of Meteorology stated that the hottest day in the upcoming week would be Wednesday so on that day Rob drove me to Cosy Corner once more, helped me over the rocks to a private stretch of beach, switched his mobile to video mode and said, somewhat cheekily, ‘Off you go.’

I stood on the sand and faced the sea that would soon envelop me. Then I started walking in.

I felt like a cowboy in a black and white movie walking down the main street of a mean town to face a deadly enemy who had a gun at each hip and a spare one stuffed in his right boot.

Don’t stop, I told myself. Keep going, no matter what.

The only thing that really kept me going was knowing Rob was videoing me. I didn’t want to see myself fail on film.

What did it feel like?

I’ll be honest. It was a total shock to the system. The cold water crept up my legs as I moved inexorably deeper, and when I finally couldn’t bear the suspense any longer, I went under with a scream and my mouth filled with salt water.

I’d forgotten that the sea was so salty. So fresh. So clear. So buoyant. So playful. So joyous a place to be.

What did the sea tell me?

It told me I’d been a fool to stay away so long from its loving embrace.

At Cosy Corner. My favourite swimming spot is just behind the rocks on the right.

Since that momentous day Rob and I have been going once a week. Whether I continue this momentum through the winter is questionable, but I'll give it a go.

See you in the sea!

With love, Marlane