Blowfish

I've been thinking all week about swimming. Much of that was because, through Tuesday, I still had water in my ear from my Saturday flailings in a pool. But that's happily evaporated by now.

I wish I could swim better. I wish I could go under water, without holding my nose, without any hint of panic. I wish I didn't look like an idiot when I went under water without holding my nose because generally, I puff my cheeks out. I guess the five year old in me thinks I'll have more air that way.

The only thing I hate about swimming is going under water; I hate that feeling of water filling up my sinuses. I even like jumping in. (I don't dive; no self-respecting diver would be seen holding her nose.) Everyone says, "Just blow out through your nose," but that doesn't seem to work for me for long enough. I use up all my air, even that which I've carefully and instinctively stored in my cheeks. And the moment I stop, water rushes in with tremendous velocity, and then I'm all panicky and sputtering again. Do they make swim classes for adults who aren't gonna drown, but aren't so excited about putting their faces in the water either?

Maybe if my karma works out right, in my next life, I'll be a blowfish.