Bleary-eyed with jet lag and the particular bodily displacement that comes from traveling such a long distance in such a short time, I arrived back in the stormy Bay Area ready to take my last plunge of my year of swimming in my favorite place: the Albany Bulb. It was pouring with rain as our… Read More 365 Days of Swimming
For the last few months, ever since we booked our trip to England for Christmas, I’ve been delving into local swimming groups in order to map out the swims that would carry me through the tail end of my year of swimming. I was delighted when I discovered the Colchester Bluetits. The Bluetits Chill Swimmers… Read More Dedham Mill Pond (Day 358)
Today we had a cheerful holiday swim gathering at the Albany Bulb. Lots of swimmers came out, which seemed extra special because the numbers have been dwindling lately. It was great to swim with a big crowd again. There’s nothing like watching a dozen people brave the cold and go paddling off in all directions. … Read More Celebrating (Day 351)
I woke up this morning in a Hilton hotel in Bakersfield, California. Hazel and I drove here last night for my cousin Peter’s memorial, which is today. Peter was my oldest cousin on my dad’s side and I never knew him as well as I wish I did. After my mom died, his family came… Read More Bakersfield (Day 343)
Sheila had an early meeting and so we met at the Albany Bulb for a 6:30 swim, which worked out well because it started raining this morning, and getting in early meant we were least likely to be swimming through runoff. But arriving at the parking lot in the dark with the rain splattering and… Read More Beautiful Storm (Day 335)
My Dad and Yasuko are visiting for Thanksgiving and they came down to the Albany Bulb with me this morning along with Kevin, Hazel, and Lulu. Arwen and Jorge were there, too, and I felt thankful for my family, glad for their company in my happy place. The joyful group of 7 o’clockers was getting… Read More Giving Thanks (Day 328)
Kevin and I drove all day long and, at the end of it, nothing felt quite so good as getting into the water at the Albany Bulb. I brought home a cold and mostly came home wanting to crawl into bed, but I didn’t feel bad enough to miss a swim and so off I… Read More Home (Day 315)
My excited anticipation to see Eliza today was only a little bit marred by my worry about having to swim at some point. I left Portland early with the idea that I would swim in the afternoon in Victoria. I didn’t really start worrying about this plan until I was on the ferry to Victoria… Read More Reunited (Day 309)
The milestone of 300 swims seems somehow less momentous than 100 or 200 did. Maybe it’s because I’m so close to the end of my year of swimming: 365 is the number on my mind these days; 300 is just a signpost telling me it’s coming soon. But maybe it’s also because daily swims have… Read More 300 Days of Swimming
The summer after 6th grade I moved with my dad and brother to an apartment complex on the campus of UC Irvine. Lonely and awkward, I spent my days in the playground, sulking on the swings, trying to figure out if I was still a kid or a teenager. One day, this adorable girl my… Read More Celebrating Arwen Part I (Day 296)
Jenny Swimming 