In the locker room I change into my swimsuit and jump under the pulsing hot water of the communal showers. I wrap my towel around my waist, grab my goggles, and push my damp hair off my forehead. It's a quarter to five and the aquarobics class is about to end. I sit on the bench watching them bob and float and wish that I could be under water watching their legs while I swim past. Time has passed and the class is over, the instructor and a member of the class put the lane markers back in place and adult lap swim is session once again.
I leave my glasses on the bench and slip on the goggles. My world is fuzzy and blurry. I walk to the deep end of the pool, sit down on the edge and slip my legs into the warm comfort of the water. I push my legs from the wall and my head goes under. Out of habit I dive deep and swim to the bottom of the pool to touch the floor. I go back up for air, break the surface and fall into the patter of my laps. I count them. I do all the usual strokes and once again attempt the butterfly only to laugh at my clumsy attempts. The pool is quiet and I am the only person in the pool. I enjoy the stillness and float on my back looking up and out the huge window. Snow is falling outside and I watch it collect on the roof tops of the buildings.

Posted by Suzanne at February 8, 2004 12:31 PM