Seize the Day: Part One
On a sunny September Friday, Jeff texted from the lifeguard stand where he was finishing up his required hours to remain a recumbent member of the Los Angeles County lifeguard team. He said, “you and pops should get down to the ocean today. The waves are perfect, the water is as warm as it has been all summer and no-one is around.”
“Shoot,” I said to myself, as I had an appointment I needed to go to, and I mentioned to Jim that he should go get wet. I can’t remember what he said, but nevertheless, we both did not take the opportunity to just seize the day and go down for some fun in the sun and water. We figured that since the forecast for Saturday was similar, we would mosey down to the beach and jump in. Well, as things happen at the beach, the next day clouded over and the water just did not look that appetizing, so we decided not to jump in.
For one reason or the other, neither of us had been in the water for most of the summer, even though I had been going to Ocean Therapy sessions at Camp Pendleton and in El Porto, but as it often happens, I ended up chatting with the many Marines, athletes and volunteers all day, and never got in for a real swim or surf.
As we started planning for our October Ocean Therapy sessions in La Jolla, I said to Pam, “OK, I am definitely getting back into the water. It’s going to happen. My crunchy feet were feeling good and I was excited at the prospect of getting back in the ocean, in one of my most favorite spots. You see, we had lived right by La Jolla Shores when Jimmy was a toddler and it was a favorite spot to take our little fish. He loved the water from the moment he was born. Bath-time, puddles, swimming pools, he simply had to get wet. I like to tell the story about Jimmy, when he was about 4 years old, discovering Blacks Beach, right next to La Jolla Shores. We happened to take a longer walk along the water one day, and looked up to see one nude man, and then a few more. Blacks Beach is primarily known as a clothing-optional, or nude, beach and for its excellent surf conditions. While we were looking at the big waves, Jimmy was looking at a bunch of naked people! He immediately asked if he could take his yellow and blue striped speedo suit off too. We said “Of course,” and he joyously ran into the waves, yelling the top of his lungs, “I’m naked man too!” So, you can see, I definitely have some fun memories about La Jolla. Jim and I did not choose to be clothing optional, just in case you were wondering!
Back to last weekend: we arrived in La Jolla on a picture-perfect Saturday morning, in record time and little traffic. The sky was a cloudless cerulean blue and the ocean was sparkling like a billion diamonds. We drove down the hill and saw the JMMF tents already set up in the grass and even snagged a very close parking spot. As we walked through the parking lot, we ran into Nick, our Clinical Lead Therapist for JMMF and excitedly asked about the conditions. Warm water, no wind and the tide was getting better for beginner surfers. Just my type of day.
Participants and volunteers kept arriving to the beach, from the Vet Center, Veterans Village of San Diego and other veteran communities. Familiar volunteers arrived, stoked to see each other and to meet our new groups of “athletes.” We usually have a pretty good idea of how many participants will be with us at each session, but when we counted before we gathered in our sharing circle for introductions, it looked like 50 people, which was one of our largest regular sessions ever.
As always, our JMMF team pulled together to create an atmosphere of inclusion, information, and heartfelt affirmations in the large circle. By the time all 50 people, including the athletes, volunteers, families and staff had shared their reflections of being there and how they were feeling, we all felt that a new “tribe” had been formed and that we were there for each other. In the water and out. That’s the magic of Ocean Therapy, a sense of immediate bonding; whether it be the terror of getting in the ocean for the first time, the awkward pulling on of the tight wetsuits, or the fear of “looking stupid,” everyone was committed to try something new and trusted our team to keep them safe.
After a quick stretch, and a surf lesson on the sand, our first group of athletes, their surf instructors and water safety team marched into the white water and gentle shore pound, hopped on to the big blue soft foam surfboards, designed for beginning surfers and got ready for the ride of their lives! With instructors riding the back of their boards, one by one the athletes in their bright lime green rash-guards (so it was easy to spot them) either took their first wave on their bellies, knees, or actually stood up! Whooping and hollering, arms raised in a triumphant V, each person found their own rhythm and timing, as they took their first ride to the shore. Those of us on the beach were waving, clapping and calling out individual names as they continued to pop up, fall down and get back up again. That’s the essence of Ocean Therapy in a nut-shell.
All of a sudden, it was 12:30 and the “surfers” had been in the water for more than an hour and thirty minutes. Everyone who wanted to, had a chance to go out and surf once or twice or until utterly spent. During that time, I had decided I would not take the time of an instructor and a surfboard, since there were so many participants wanting to stay in the water and surf as long as possible. I was wet and happy for everyone, but I had not surfed yet, and I kept thinking that I must seize the day, but it would have to be tomorrow!
As we gathered for our closing circle, when asked for any last comments, I decided I needed a little push to surf the next day, so I said to everyone, “tomorrow I surf!” Once you say it out-loud, it becomes a commitment to the tribe. Two years previously, I made the same promise to a group of vets in Coronado, and ended up with our beloved Kevin Sousa, for our last surf together.
Seize the Day – Part 2
The Past Becomes the Present
With love and gratitude. Thanks for wading through the long adventure with me!
Nancy
