My friend, Emily, and her kid, Gabi, are staying with us for the weekend as we all attend and volunteer at the Bay Area Book Festival. Emily and I met at Lit Camp several years ago and pre-pandemic we’d often meet up to write together; lovely afternoons where very little writing ever got done. I was looking forward to a weekend together and, without much expectation, I mentioned that she ought to pack a swimsuit. Much to my delight, she did!

We went out early with Gabi and Lulu-the-dog. Emily doesn’t normally make a habit of swimming, but she got right in and it didn’t take long before she felt the invigorating joy of swimming in the bay. 

I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful morning to show off my world of swimming at the Albany Bulb: The sun was shining, a light wind ruffled the water while gray, white, and lavender clouds stretched into shapes in the brilliant blue sky. The city shimmered in the distance, clear and vivid.