My Lebanon

This morning I was up to meet Ali for a swim in the salty water.

We meet on the Corniche at 7 am, at the tall antenna, our getting in place.  The water temp is 18, about 64 degrees F, and it feels screamin' COLD.  Swimming is the only way to warm up. By the time we are heading back to the AUB antenna, my hands feel hard as wooden paddles, and I'm just pulling for all I'm worth.  But I LOVE it: seeing the white sand, rocks, fish and deep blue all around.  It is a swim  of wonders.  Ali saw a jellyfish!  I didn't see that, but need to keep my eyes on the look out.  There are motor boats and occasional jet skis, and until today, I thought these were all I had to avoid.  We swim in groups and wear brightly colored swim caps.  Some people wear big floats tied to their waists.  But the important thing is to swim together.

All was well this morning until I realized I was an hour early... it was just going on 6 am. The sun was up, however, so I decided to warm up with a walk.  On the way  back, I stopped to take pictures of the silly men and their antics.  These guys were jumping off a rock, making a great show of shouting (in Arabic), and counting on one another.  Here are those pics:

Young Abdallah with his uncle, grandmother, and daughter-mother

While watching the men being boys, I noticed this adorable child, and asked his mother if I could take his picture.  She said it was ok.  We began to talk; she in her lovely English.  Her mother-in-law, younger than me, spoke in Arabic... from which I could pick out some words, namely, 4 sons! By the time my swimmer friend Ali arrived, I was taking pictures and turning down an invitation to their house; Time to swim!  

Abdallah

These men, a Swimming-Running Club, meet and swim every day at 7 am.  They bring their campstove to prepare the hot tea, and carry in brownies and yummies to eat before and after the swim.  While Ali and I swim along the shore, to the marina wall and back, these guys swim straight out into the sea 750 meters, then back. As swimmer Ibrahim explained, "Beirut looks like this (he holds up his hand; no wider than his hand, all compacted), and this (the antenna) appears to be only so tall (he holds up his pointer finger).  I love seeing the city in miniature; it is my favorite swim, and we're out and back in less than 30 min."  The 30 minutes is important  because the water is cold (18 degrees C = 64 F), and before you arrive back, your hands feel stiff.  The sweet, hot tea is just right to begin the warming up process.  For some reason, these men accept me. They must wonder what I'm doing there, but they give me tea and brownies, and don't ask me anything. When I took their picture today, I could hear the unspoken questions: what's this woman doing here?

Well there is only one answer:  SWIMMING TO FEED MY SOUL!

Ali, second from left, with hot tea pot, brownies, among his friends; awesome swimmers all.

Ali speaks very little English.  The first time he met me was in the sea, struggling with waves to get out onto the rocks. This was last year.  I was swimming with Ingrid and Phil, friends from ACS.  From that day on, Ali, often near, would swim with us.  What was fun was that he would swim fast, and I would enjoy trying to keep up with him. Phil, Ingrid and I stopped swimming back in November as the storms came in and then the water temp cooled. It seemed appropriate to stop.  Well, not for these swimmers.  They swim all year round.

So I was on my way to school a few weeks ago and I heard, "Carolyn, Carolyn!"  Ali was running over!  "Do you want to swim?"  he asked.  Of course!  He invited me to join him and his friends.  And so for the past several Saturdays I have met up with Ali at the big antenna and defied my own shyness at being the only woman; climbed down the ladder from the Corniche, walked self-consciously over to the concrete slab, taken off my sweatpants and sweatshirt, and walked over to the water's edge.  I sit, with feet dangling, then up to hips, then up to waist while splashing upper arms, then in.  The entry is a screamer! 

I have loved every minute of swimming and being with these other swimmers. It is amazing. At any other time in my life I could not have been so bold. Thank God for Ali, giving me courage.  Is ANYONE luckier than I am? I am happy out there in that bracing water, and on the rocks sipping the sweet hot tea. In these moments my joy is complete.

Italy #2: Rome

Hate to cry when it's time to leave? 

Then stay away from Rome!

Trevi Fountain and my wish? Return trip!

Margaret and I; happy travelers!

I loved Rome.

Irony here were the warnings: You'll be lucky if you still have your purse 30 minutes after you get here... 

My friend lost her money belt in Venice.... 

My cousin's husband lost his wallet 15 minutes after he got off the train... 

and on and on the stories go.

When I realized I still had my purse and had been in Rome for over an hour, I gave a silent cheer!  

The truth is, if you are aware, and careful, there is nothing to fear.  

Rome is a treasure chest; surprises around every corner.  

I was disgusted as much as amazed with the coliseum, awed by the Vatican, humbled in the presence of Michelangelo, and thrilled with my visit to the Borghese Museum and Gallery.

Avoiding INERTIA!

After I accepted the new job, my resignation letter to Dr. Jo and South Whidbey practically wrote itself. I'd been agonizing over this decision these past months. I'd figured that one or two years overseas would be a long time, but it flashed by.  For me, going "home" means settling in somewhere, and that's scary too!  Going forward seems no more difficult now that I am here.

Once on a roll it is easier to keep rolling!  

Am I fearless? NO WAY!  I have many fears. But facing them is the thing. This is my challenge. There is so much to see and discover!  and I have so much to learn. I think of it as gathering stories for my 80th birthday party; an idea that came from Steven Covey.

Thank you Paula, for sending this my way!