It was a three-swim day: the first was to wake up after a late night of fun and not enough sleep. 

The second was an escape; a fleeing from irritating chores and conversations, from my own bad mood. That was my longest swim of the day; around the bay and back again, a lovely retreat from the obligations of the real world into the water world, into the breath, the repetitions and sensations of swimming. Like a long exhale. Along the way, my mood improved dramatically, annoyances and crankiness disintegrating into the lake. 

A relaxing day on the dock followed, one that included impromptu haircuts for Hazel and me. A thousand tiny hairs covering my body prompted my third swim. A refreshing, cleansing dip to end my day.