#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream
After the swim
The true beloveds of this world are in their lover's eyes lilacs opening, ship lights, school bells, a landscape, remembered conversations, friends, a child's Sunday, lost voices, one's favorite suit, autumn and all seasons, memory, yes, it being the earth and water of existence, memory.
- Truman Capote
Years ago, decades, really, probably twenty or more years ago, my brother founded the annual Farm Pond Perimeter swim––the Funbelow. My brother doesn’t run it anymore, a wonderful volunteer, David Reavill does now. But we still participate most years, including today. We were on the beach at 8:00; my daughter joined us bright and early. Perfect sunny September weather. Fifty one swimmers, starting from the beach, and going around, and returning to the beach. My daughter and my brother swam much faster than me, but I was happy on my swim, I felt terrific. When I swam passed my friend’s dock I felt grateful for all the swims I’ve taken from there this summer; lovely memories. And, I kept swimming, enjoying every stroke, which isn’t true every year. This September weather, wow. What a day, spent entirely outdoors enjoying the sun and breeze. My sister brought her two grandsons to play all afternoon and I made the sweet boys sandwiches and we watched the frogs in the frog pond and raced around the yard and swam and played in the sandbox in the garden—where I found my first butternut squash! And I have a lush eggplant ready to pick and another on the way! Finally, in the late afternoon, went indoors to watch the women’s final of the US Open, a history making thrilling match between two eighteen year old women and everyone in the house ended up joining me and Frank at the TV glued to the match, cheering them on. Reminded me of my parents watching the US Open when I was younger and not very interested in the game, but how I, too, would get caught up in the excitement of a major tournament when they watched their favorite players. All day I felt filled with the stories from yesterday about my Aunt, especially the words shared by her grandson, her youngest, who spoke tearfully and joyfully about the special impact she had on him since birth, always laughing and playing. And my sister and I talked about that, being both grandmothers together now, and knowing the feeling of having that impact. What an afternoon we had with our boys in the sun today.