Swimming in Malta

 

   Overcoming a 35-Year Fear of Water 

                    (Or Trying to)

 

 

SK from Germany is one of my best friends.  (SK is a woman, as opposed to Mr. S., who is my partner from Germany.)

SK and I discovered we had lots of things in common. But the best thing we found in common was our fear of water.  And this characteristic is hard to come by on a Mediterranean island with water activities of every kind imaginable.

Two weeks ago, however, I felt that SK had betrayed me. 

She told me how she went on a little boat ride with about 10 people.  It was a gorgeous day, everything seemed right and she actually climbed down the ship's ladder--and swam.  

What ever happened to loyalty?

I tried to be happy for SK; I really did.  I told her how wonderful that was--that after decades of being afraid of the water she was able to get off that boat in water two miles over her head and swim away from the boat a bit. 

She told me how free she felt, and that she was sure that I could do it, too.  I felt sick to my stomach.  There was no way that I was going to climb down from a ship and swim in deep water.  I have fears of overflowing toilets, for G-d sakes.

I truly felt that I had lost my best friend. 

Then this past Sunday, SK, Mr. S., and eight other good friends went on a small boat ride (well, the boat was small--not the ride--that was six hours).  And yes, it was a gorgeous day--the air was hot, the water looked cool and inviting, blah, blah, blah.

SK told me she was going wonder-swimming again.  And maybe I would try it too?  Well, maybe. A big maybe.

So we stop in a beautiful bay.  Everyone dives off the ship. But SK steps down the ladder and floats magically about 20 feet away.  I tell myself to go ahead. Try. So I step down the ladder, too.  The metal rungs hurt my feet.  But I ease myself into the water.  It's cold but not as bad as I thought it would be.

I cling to a rope attached to a ladder.  I see SK wave to me from afar.  And I'm thinking...I'm really in the water. Yes, after 35 years of fear. As a kid, a boy pulled me and held me under the water at Oakdale Lake in Hudson, NY.  And since then, I've been terrified of water. But now, here I am in the Mediterranean...

Suddenly the word jelly fish rings out  across the clear blue water of the Blue Lagoon.  And every butt that dove out, every butt that climbed down that ladder--every single one, including mine--is back in that boat.  I'm on that boat so fast that I almost go over the other end of it. 

Someone was stung, we hear. When I gather my wits, I see a crowd around SK, her leg swelling to the size of a tree trunk, with someone scraping off the tentacles (or is it testicles--I can't remember) of the jelly fish with a Mastercard.

SK looks directly at me and says, "I'm OK, Ilene. I'm OK. It's nothing."

Nothing?   I don't think so. But I have to thank a miserable jelly fish for bringing  us back together again.  Forever.  On land.

 

OK, I lied a little...

SK was really OK. Mr. S. put in a hard day of jelly fish hunting and elimination around the ship. SK did go back in the water and so did I.  I was even able to swim a bit to and fro from the ship to Mr. S.  And I liked it.

 

                  That's me on the left; Mr. S the savior on the right

 

                              Making it back to the boat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi there Passing--glad to have been of help, although I don't know exactly what I helped you with--Ilene

[how to pass drug test]

I am to submit a report on this niche your post has been very very helpfull

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

*B--is it really you??? I'm not a traitor!!! I'll stop swimming. Please
forgive me! See you soon--Love, Momm*

On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 9:34 PM, wrote:

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

B--is it really you??? I'm not a traitor!!! I'll stop swimming. Please forgive me! See you soon--Love, Momm

[B]

Good job for getting off the boat! I have to say I'm quite surprised. And while I'm tempted to also feel that I have been betrayed by my favorite non swimmer companion, I realize I should just be thrilled for you and try to join you on this new swimming adventure. Maybe I'll need to learn in the Medditeranean as well (minus the jelly fish please).

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

What's new, Maltese Kat? Thanks for your kind comment and loyalty. Would love to meet you. Send me an email--Ilene

[Katie]

the lovely part was the swimming of course, not the jellies...

[Katie]

Sounds lovely! I will be in Malta in October and I can't wait! Maybe we can meet? My Mom and I are going to visit family and are staying in Sliema near Preluna in the apt. I rented a couple years ago.
Don't ever think my silence is due to my lack of being a loyal reader. I have been here the entire time, just so busy!
Take Care,
Katie (Maltese Kat)

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Dee, thanks for your encouragement. I'll never swim for the Olympics, but that's OK with me--Ilene

[Dee Owen]

You are very brave, both of you, Ilene and SK. Glad you experienced the Med. and the jelly fish didn't do any damage. Hope you get to enjoy lots more swims, preferably without jelly fish!

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Thanks, Mr. S., for your modest and accurate comment.

[Mr.S]

Just for the record - who didn't leave the water when the jellyfish warning came ? Me ... and who did leave the water , unvoluntary ? The jellyfish , or to be more exact the roundabout 25 mauve stingers that ended up in a big bucket . Of course who fished the biggest one out of the water ? Steve saved us all from a huge fried egg jellyfish ( yes , that is their real name )that ended up in said bucket too dwarfing all the rest of the already soggy inhabitants .