SURFIN' USA!

It really was a game of "Will she, won't she?" this week. Temperatures were dropping, then rising.  It was a typical November in Austin.  No one knows from one day to the next, whether they will be wearing a bikini or a parker!  (I believe the latter term is somewhat universal.)  

Going into November, on Monday, felt a little different.  Things were changing.  Firstly, out came the crocheted poppy.  Remembrance Sunday is on the 14th November this year, but Veterans' Day is, as always, on the 11th.  The poppy comes out on the first, and remains on my heart (or just above) for the full month!  I wondered how long the poppy story would be told! Armistice Day has already celebrated its century.  I spoke to my mother.  "They don't do poppies over there though", she said to me, when I told her that I was wearing mine.  I replied that she was correct.  I told her that I did have a regular poppy, that had been sent over a few years ago, but I now wear the crocheted version that Samantha made.  "But you should buy one", she insisted.  "The funds go to the British Legion!"  I reminded her of her first comment.  "They don't do poppies over here!"  

I did not receive any comments on my poppy on Monday,, nor Tuesday.  We don't generally get any comments for about a week, when people start to notice that my daughter and I wear the flower, day in and day out.  

Although Veteran's Day is commemorated, albeit by different names, all over, the sentiment is the same.  As I have mentioned, many times, it is very, very important to me.  One grandfather fought in the Great War, and was at Flanders, the other, a boy during the first, spent the entire time of WWII finding ways to avoid going to fight.  He was not a conscientious objector, just conscientious about not being sent overseas!  Although some may see that as cowardly, or unpatriotic, his story would be more comedic than abhorrent.  However, I digress.

It was a week of different names!  I spent a considerable time on the phone to court houses and jails!  After all the years I have spent here, I still have to rehearse my speech! Calling a courthouse and referring to a judge as 'Judge' rather than 'your honour', is rather amusing.  I feel as if I am calling the person by his, or her first name, or rather by their last name.  Calling a courthouse is still every bit as much as overwhelming as walking into one, although I have become a little less intimidated over the years.  I still feel a little like Uriah Heap when letting those who prepare the writs that they have made a mistake!  "What do you know?  You don't even speak our language!" has never quite been attributed to me, but sometimes it has been vaguely implied.  Again, I digress.  Calling a courthouse and saying, "Morning, Judge, how are you today", does not roll off the tongue as easily as it should!  Calling a jail and chit-chatting with the administrator is even more of a strain.  "Where you calling from?  You get rain?" is not something I expect to hear when asking if a certain person is an inmate in their facility.  

Rain we did get!  It started Tuesday night, and continued into Wednesday morning, not letting up until quite early Thursday morning.  By the time I arrived home on Wednesday, it was teeming! However, despite the lack of 'birdsong' there was a hum of aeroplanes and I knew it was safe to take a dip.  I was quite aware that there may be a few people shouting at me to get out of the pool, but then realised that no one is going to come out in the pouring rain to ward me off!  It was wonderful.  The rain was hitting the water so hard that I wondered if this was what it felt like to swim across the English Channel!  Probably not, but it was not a calm, serene half an hour!  I felt invigorated and much more alive than I had all day!  

By Friday, the tide had turned, and it was chilly!  Samantha and I had walked up into the neighbourhood above my condo on Thursday, but it was very misty.  Friday morning was bright, and the sunrise spectacular, albeit the fog that had settled on the neighbourhood to the south was even more of a sight!  It was as if a cloud had engulfed the whole area, and we stood in awe for a few seconds.  

I had finally conceded on Thursday evening, and although gone to the pool with my towel and in my swimwear, dipping my legs in the pool for a few seconds was enough to ward me off!  "Too cold?" asked my neighbour.  "Way too cold", I responded.  

My new wetsuit, that had been ordered, and in which I had put all my hopes and dreams (well not quite, but at this time of year, that is what it seems like) had arrived a week earlier than predicted.  It was thicker, and the idea was that I could wear this in the mornings, and the other in the afternoon.  However, not being an expert, I had ordered the wrong thing!  A 'chest zip' was not what I really wanted, despite it looking like everything I needed!  I can hear surfers, and divers tutting in disgust at me taking this equipment for a mere swim across a private pool!  A wetsuit is a vital piece of equipment and not for trivial activities!  (I have been told this before, by whom I shall not say.)  The problem with the 'chest zip' was two fold.  Firstly, I had to get my whole body into the suit through the neck.  This would have been okay if firstly I had had half an hour to do so, and secondly, I had an hour to peel it off after my 'trivial' swim.  The second problem was the hood.  I thought it was a good idea at the time, but as my daughter pointed out, "You will hyperventilate getting it on, and double hyperventilate, and go into shock, getting it off!"  She was probably right!  I had a 'hood' bought for me when I bought the last wet suit, and it was suffocating!  It was more the thought than the action, but I did not give myself time to get used to it.  I shall have to practice!  "Why would they sell these, when there is no way you can get into them?" asked my husband.  I told him that experienced divers would not find this a problem, and it was a preference.  However, it was not my preference!  It would have to go back!  Hence, morning swims were to be put on the back burner, so to speak!

Despite the beautiful sunrise, the temperatures were chilly.  I am not sure it reached 60 on Friday, and it felt quite cool outside.  I decided not to risk getting wet, and I certainly would not feel comfortable sitting and reading outside.  For the first time since spring, came out the boots, and my summer hats were sent to hibernate!  

I wore jeans on Saturday.  It was a testament that winter was approaching.  Samantha had fitted steps to her truck last weekend, and I had no longer had to pull myself up into the cab.  Personally, I would have preferred a set that rolled down like a 'loft ladder', but the addition of a break between ground and board is definitely a great deal better than not!

Down to the pool I went, wetsuit in bag, and a change of clothes just in case.  I was upset at not having the new suit to wear, as I thought it might be a better option to be that little bit more protected, but my thermometer assured me that the water was swimmable!  On came the gloves, and booties.  I must have looked a sight, but I didn't care!  I was going to have one last, perhaps penultimate, perhaps ante-penultimate swim!

The idea of taking clothes in which to change was rather good, but it did not work!  I needed to get dry and out of the wet 'under costume' before feeling comfortable.  I headed upstairs, and got changed. The sun was warm, but the outside temperature just a bit too brisk.  However, despite all the signs of winter, the complete covering from head to toe, I got bitten!  The only exposed part of me was my face, and as I was swimming, I felt a sting.  I knew it was not a wasp, but it was a sting nonetheless.  Typical!

"Have you swum today?" asked a neighbour.  I replied that I had, but with the suit.  "Oh yes.  Definitely wetsuit weather!" he responded. I smiled, wondering what the real surfers and divers would make of that comment!  I cared not!

I walked this morning, a little later than usual, but actually the same time!  Our clocks finally went back and we were in sync with what we were used to!  To the sun, my walk was an hour later, but to my watch it was the same time!  The pool looked cool!  Upon my return I noticed the large bump on the side of my face.  Mosquito?  Possibly. However, my money goes with something else, of which I am not sure.  Amazing how you can tell the difference in an itch!

Maybe I will brave the water, as the overnights did not drop as much as yesterday, or maybe I won't.  Obsessive?  More like grieving the loss of another summer.  Whatever the choice, the clock's have gone back, the temperature is dropping, and the days are shorter, and the choice will probably be made for me.  Once again, I shall be looking for a different source to occupy my time, and to write in ..... another story!