Who I Am

Today I swam a lazy half k.

I love swimming. I love the water.

I would go so far as to say that it’s one of a few things that I am ‘quite’ good at.

One of the few things that I have a prolonged attention span for.

And for all of you who think you could never swim a lazy half k.

You can.

It’s all in the breathing.

But unless you can grasp this concept you may as well go buy yourself a new pair of runners.

Rule 1.

BLOW OUT while your head is IN the water. And I do mean a big gusty blow!
You are NOT making a wish here folk!

Rule 2.

BREATHE IN while your head is OUT of the water

This requires somewhat a little more strategy if you are in the ocean.

i.e. Extra attention required here or prepare for an unexpected mouthful of salty water, choking, coughing and looking most unglamorous!

My favourite song of the moment is 'Some Night's by Fun.
Not my all time favourite song .. just the one of the moment .. dare I mention the two words  ‘attention span!' ..

It’s a great song to swim by – inspires a certain pounding through the water!

I particularly like the bridge:

And that's alright; I found a martyr in my bed tonight
Stops my bones from wondering just who I am, who I am, who I am Oh, who am I?  

Who I am. Who I am. Who I am, Who am I?

Three little words when whose order is simply changed .. inspire a whole new train of thought .. dare I mention the two words .. ‘attention span!' ..

That got me thinking.

Because the water is a most special place to think.
And I was thinking about Banana Paddle Pops.

BANANA PADDLE POPS YOU ARE THINKING?!?

I know ..

But stay with me here. I sort of know where I am heading. I just need to get there.

What a media frenzy this week over the little old Banana Paddle Pop!
Who would have thought?

However I do feel I am qualified to contribute to this brouhaha.
Over qualified maybe.
You see I think I have most likely consumed over 1000 Banana Paddle Pops in my short life!

For many years I was a shift worker. 24/7. And the graveyard shift was hell. Not that it wasn’t entertaining. Trust me – people come out with the funniest things when sleep deprived at 3am!

But trying for quality sleep in the daylight was truly awful. For years I just headed home at 8am directly to bed. To a sleep of the dead. Only to wake up at 2pm. UGH!
And then have to wait 10 hours to go to work! For another 8 hours. Further UGH!

Until I discovered THE SECRET. It was only in my last few years of shift work that I discovered THE SECRET! 100’s of sleeping pills and litres of warm milk and honey later and it was all so simple!

SWIMMING!

I started going directly to the pool. Do not go home! Do not utter the word bed. Pack your gear and your goggles and head directly to THE POOL.
Do not think twice. No. Don’t!
Just. Go.

So that was me. Directly to THE POOL.

To physically exhaust myself. In preparation for SLEEP. Real SLEEP.
Not drug enhanced or short term.
Doing something I love.

And everyday after my lazy half k I had a Banana Paddle Pop! It was Breakfast.
Or maybe it was Dinner? I am not sure what food group it fell into but I do know I loved it.
Every day.

Just the way it was. It was perfect.

“Who am I, who am I , who am I. Who I am?”

I gave up swimming for a very long time. I gave up the beach for a very long time. I gave these things up for something that I thought was better. But like the new Banana Paddle Pop - turns out it wasn’t.
Time to remember the things you have loved.

I am going back to the pool. To the beach.

It’s who I am.

The other night, you wouldn't believe

The dream I just had about you and me
I called you up, but we'd both agree
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance...

Spring is upon us.

Tomorrow another lazy half k – and maybe tomorrow I’ll lose count.
Attention span!