12 00 am pdt   [ tile encounter ]

Rebecca begged me to go swimming with her when I got home. I was hot, since the air is still broken in my car such that the heat is on at all times. But I really didn't want to swim because I hate it when the water is cold. I like my pool bathtub warm [feel free to wrinkle your nose at me]. When she begged, though, I couldn't say no. She dove and claimed it was warm, but the way she giggled made me wonder. I stuck in a toe. Mmmmm. I jumped in and headed for the thermometer. "Eighty-nine" she reported, and I was pleased as punch.

Rebecca wants to get certified as a lifegaurd, and for her test she needs to swim 26 meters without taking a breath. We decided to practice. I used to be really good at swimming long distances holding my breath, but I haven't practiced in years. We took turns going. She would always make it 3/4 of the way.

I used to swim with my eyes open, but now I keep 'em closed and pop 'em open when I need to orient myself. I had made two runs at swimming while holding my breath. On the previous one, I had slowed down too much before the wall, and thus had little momentum for my turn. On my third try, I gulped in air and headed for that wall, telling myself I wouldn't slow down too much. I snapped my eyelids open and registered that I was still far from the wall. I gave a great push and sliced through the water. I smacked my forehead into the ceramic tiles on the wall with some serious velocity. Now I have a small but substantial bruise on my face. I'm such a goof!

Unexpectedly, I got an apology for the e-mail I referred to two days ago. Since the sender is completely anonymous, I find myself wondering if e is male or female, what age e is, what city e lives in. If e was in LA I'd take em out to tea and discuss why e was having such a bad day on Monday [besides the obvious fact that it was Monday]. I am fascinated by the fact that the internet strips most of our identity, and allows us to reconstruct ourselves. But a name does provide some information, and lacking that made me realize how anonymous e-mail really can be.

..........

July 1998
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