Swimming? Oh Man!

My first swimming lesson ever! Got this wonderful, full-sleeved, shocking pink swimming outfit, after a lot of search. Went in for the lesson with some apprehension but found a lot of others who were asking questions similar to mine. “Is this the first swim lesson of your life?” or “It’s about time for us, right?” Well, taking some courage by this fact, I went in enthusiastically. Prashant, my husband, was there too, learning with me.

Truthfully, I love water. I feel one with it. I am a Cancer. It is a water sign. I mean, who will swim if not me? I should feel like fish in the water – just as if it were my natural habitat. Except, that it turns out that I was the only one among the fifteen or so learners, who bombed the practice. I could not even get away from the wall while others were gliding and floating and kicking! I mean, it was the very first class. How could these people do all these things? How could the coaches even teach this Level thirteen-type stuff already?

Okay, so the hardest part for me is to actually get my feet back down once I have lifted (or tried at least) my legs to float in the water. I tried to get back down and was swayed in all different directions, almost twisted my ankle, trying to find foothold and opened my mouth in the process, which made me swallow this water. The darn water (which I love, I feel one with it) went to the wrong pipe inside my body and I started coughing, almost choking. The lifeguard stayed by me, trying to help, but soon waded away to more promising prospects.

So, I decided very firmly that I was going to stick to the wall area of the pool and learn how to stay under water for five seconds. And lo and behold, I was going down on my belly and lifting my legs as well! Except that my husband told me that I had lifted them only about half an inch above the ground. Infuriated, I decided to kick my legs while lifting them so they could all see, but hit my toes on the ground. They are still hurting. So, maybe I really was very close to the ground.

Anyway, I got used to this ‘wall’-end of the pool today at least. Next time, hopefully I’ll test different waters (hah, notice the expression!). My question for now is – how do you go down in the water, lift your legs and not feel like you’re going to hit the bottom? I asked my husband but he said he’ll answer tomorrow. He’s too tired today and has gone to sleep. Huh, acting like a pro already?

Gorgeous.

The rain was beating down the window panes hard and loudly just a few minutes ago. It is drizzly right now. Sitting on the dry side of this window, I am surrounded by the smell of coffee, baked goods and people. People of different kinds. People who are gazing out at the mundane beauty of the city, just like this philosophi​cal-looking couple next to me. People who are engrossed in their laptops or tablets, like this young Asian man in his blue t-shirt and jeans peering at his screen without batting an eyelid. People immersed in conversati​ons, like this duo of chatty girls - one blonde, one brunette - in their tanktops and shorts, and like this Oriental woman in a beige jacket speaking into the earpiece of her phone constantly and animatedly​.

The street that I see from my perch directly opposite a large french window is never empty for more than a few moments. The constant barrage of cars of all kinds and colors makes it a happening place. The sidewalks are buzzing with pedestrian​s who are all worthy of being given their own individual stories. But I am not going to think of what their stories might be, as I want to focus on my own. My present moment. My moment of observatio​n. Of consciousn​ess. Of expression​.

Across from the street are tall buildings that were not here three years ago when I started coming out to this particular cafe. I was looking into getting into the Masters program at the adjoining University of Toronto at that time. Who knew then that I would be sitting here one day, sipping French Vanilla flavoured coffee and working on my thesis? From this corner of the cafe I can see the artistical​ly architectu​red building of the Royal Ontario Museum. And to my right is a view of the varsity arena overlooked by the majestic CN Tower and a faint skyline of that part of the city. Gorgeous!