100 Shades of Grey

Today at the lake, we swam in the rain, we saw two herons (or the same once twice) and an eagle, and guess what else? I found my swim buoy belt that I lost yesterday! It was lying in the parking lot, right where I dropped it. Yea.

I had a long doctor’s appointment this afternoon, so I had to change into my swimsuit at the clinic and head straight to the lake. I loved asking the doctor, “oh, do you mind if I use the room for a minute; I need to change into my swimsuit?” At least I got something out of the appointment.

I arrived at the park 15 minutes early, so I had plenty of time to get into my wetsuit. I sat in the car and hung my legs out. I had to wrestle my feet through the tiny ankle openings. Then, to get it on, I started with the folds of material at the ankle. Make a fold, cinch it up my leg. A bit higher, fold over a chunk of wetsuit all the way around my leg and slowly cinch it up. And so on. Then the other leg. Then I’m lying across the front seats of my car, with the gear shift in my back. I wiggle out of the car and stand so I can fold and cinch the suit over my hips, over my waist, and up my torso, until I can finally put my arms into the sleeves. I always have to struggle to get my hands through, then I have to fold and cinch both sleeves, then re-do the torso and make any adjustments. Then I have to zip it up! I haven’t mastered any of this, so it takes me a long time and I look like a goofball.

I forgot to put on my thermal socks first, so I had to walk from my car to the beach in my bare feet. I swam with L today! I am so happy that we’ve had a few swims now. I am finally getting to have more consistent swim dates with a couple of people. I think I was way to impatient when I started. It’s such a relief to have a bit of routine developing.

We got our gear on, and headed into the water, both marveling at how our insulated, waterproof gear allows us to walk into very cold water and feel nothing! We swam to the swim buoy, then floated and chatted for a bit. I was telling L how I am using swimming to manage my depression, and she mentioned that she hopes it helps with her S.A.D. Oh, snap. I knew there was something I was dreading besides the winter holidays.

Seattle is the greyest of grey places, and with my night shift schedule I don’t ever see the sun from November until daylight savings (spring forward?). I have a cute iPad-sh blue light that I bought years ago, but I never actually use it. I feel silly grabbing a light to sit in front of for ten minutes after waking. I’ll take my extra Vitamin D, but that’s about it.