Tales from the Sea

So I'm back from the beach. It would be my second time visiting the Jersey Shore. The first time we went the water was cold enough to make you cry, so it wasn't so much of a Jen-super-awesome-vacation (although we still had a really good time). So this time I was planning on nice balmy weather and warm water.

And I got it. I was so excited when I stuck my foot in, I immediately ran into the water and started swimming straight out. Then Sarah gives a shout from shore, so turn around and start swimming in. Only, I'm not going anywhere. I'm swimming... swimming... not moving... and my little brain pops in, "ah, so this is what a rip current is..." My brain also reminds me "don't swim against currents, just go with the flow" ... yeah, no. "I don't want to go out, I want to go in!" I cry out to my little brain and swim harder for shore. I caught on pretty quick that you can use the waves to carry you in and I did make it to shore, but I was a little concerned (panicked). I could no longer trust my judgment on what the water was doing... or where it was going.

It was a wee bit upsetting. I have never once felt uncomfortable in the water, but trying to swim back in that day... instilled the smallest seed of doubt in my mind. We went back to the beach on Sunday, just after tropical storm Hanna. The surf was significantly stronger, the waves significantly higher. And I totally didn't feel comfortable getting into the water, which bugged the hell out of me since David was having a dandy time. All I could think of was being dragged out into the ocean and no amount of swimming would get me back in... But then Sarah got in and swam right out. Ooo, I was so jealous. She went out past the breakers and was having a fine time just floating on the waves. Obviously if a seasoned ocean swimmer felt safe out there I would be too. So I waited for a lull and made a run for it. But my poor mountain oriented brain got confused halfway out. I kept going over wave after wave, but I wasn't getting any closer to Sarah (my poor brain failed to process the movement of the waves towards shore...). So I wimped out and turned around. I WIMPED OUT. Seriously, Miss Never-been-afraid-of-the-water can't make it 100 yards off shore. Thankfully I came to my senses once I hit land and made a go for it again. I was going to make it out there or die trying (or maybe just call for help from one of the numerous surfers...). But I made it out. And it was so wonderful... although it certainly introduced me to a whole new level of swimming.