20K and a Year Away

Wow, a lot has happened this week, but the biggest thing is that there is only one week left. It is good to be moving to the next step, but it is also very sad because I like it here a lot. It is helpful information for when I actually do retire. This country will be at the top of my list.

Let’s start this installment with all the things that happened over the week. First, I don’t know if you know, but I have an irrational fear of death by shark. Weird, considering how much I love the ocean, right? I set one foot in the water, and BOOM, shark scanning begins. It is a little nutty, I am aware, but it is a fear I have come to live with.

This fear is not something I conjured up. It comes from many ocean adventures gone awry due to animal encounters. First, to offer up a couple examples, when I was 5, I got stung by jellyfish in Hawaii. Second, when I was 13, I got stung by jellyfish in Panama. And, finally, when I was 16, I got stung by a stingray in Panama. There is history here for the ocean wild coming to meet me in ways I do not appreciate, so the next logical encounter, obviously, is a date with a shark. You get it, right?

So, back to my week. I went out on my daily beach walk and swim. I had just walked for about 40 minutes and was ready for my cool off. I got in the ocean and was enjoying the waves going up really high then right back down to the sand. It is a fantastic feeling to float up with the water. I was having a great time until… I came down with one wave and set my foot on the ground and it was NOT SAND. I immediately freaked out. I have no idea what I stepped on, but it was not what it should have been and my mind immediately registered the imminent shark attack and I started swimming for shore. I thought about this later and what a bad decision it was because I am pretty sure sharks love a challenge.

I got a little closer to the shore, where I could easily touch the bottom, and stood there contemplating life and how I had just nearly lost mine. I took a minute to collect myself and realize it was just my irrational fears coming to the surface, scanned the water for the killer fin, and decided I could go back in – it was going to be ok.

I went back into the water and was frolicking – a little closer to shore than before – and had just gotten to the point where I could put the shark attack behind me when… I stepped on something again!! This time it was either a stick or the rigid tentacle of a giant killer squid risen from the depths of hell. Either way, that was it for me! My heart could not decide if it was going to stop or if it was going to beat right out of my chest. I was done. I packed up my stuff and walked home. Ocean 1 – Elizabeth 0

Well, as you know, I cannot leave anything without facing my demons, so of course, I went back the next day to try again. I did my regular routine, walk for 40 minutes, swim for 30 – 60 minutes, or at least that was the plan.

As I was walking up the beach, little tiny fish were washing up on the shore with the waves. There were only about 4 or 5 by me, so I picked them up and threw them back in the water. I figured the birds could still catch them if they were meant to be food. I kept walking and didn’t see any more washed up on the beach. I finished my walk and went to my little swim spot for a dip.

I was enjoying the waves, as usual, for about 15 minutes, then, nature. I started feeling these bumping feelings on my legs, then on my torso, then on my arms. Like something was running into me – ‘scuse me, didn’t see you there – kind of bumping. Also, I always wear a long-sleeved swim shirt so I don’t burn, and all of a sudden there was something in my shirt!! I cannot even begin to describe the feelings I was experiencing. My mind started piecing everything together – and now with an uninvited wiggling body inside my clothing – I figured out it was a school of those tiny fish I had rescued. I think they thought I was one of them and wanted me to hang out. Pretty sure that is what it was… Regardless of how popular I am, I could not take the fan love. I got out and stood in the shallow water until I thought the fish were gone. I got back in and was immediately surrounded by my new buddies. I could take no more. I was, once again, bested by Mother Nature and took my stuff and went home. Ocean 2 – Elizabeth 0

And… of course, I went back the next day – because who the heck wouldn’t, am I right?!?! I am a glutton for punishment, obvs, and have a highly competitive nature, even with Mother Nature as my opponent. I did my little pretend to be exercising when you are actually just walking on the beach routine, enjoying everything around me. I was finishing my walk when I saw something on the sand. As you have seen above, I can’t let things just dry up on the sand. I have to put them back in the water if they are still alive. It is just what has to happen. So, I go and see what this thing was. It was my old nemesis, the jellyfish. That little sucker. Well, it’s a floater, actually, just hangs out. It was his lucky day. Regardless of the injuries and mental damage caused by its brethren past, I scooped it up and carried it to the water. I had an image of just tossing it, but it is like jelly – duh – and had a vision of it splitting apart mid-air, so I just gently set the demon in the water. Ocean 2 – Elizabeth 1

And then… I went swimming with the beasty because Bring It, Ocean!! Challenge accepted!!

And, I went for a nice hike in a Bosque Seco Tropical. It is a Tropical Dry Forrest. Nothing attacked me. I think they knew better. That is a forever commitment with me. Don’t do it unless you can really put the time in. HAHA!