South Redondo Beach
Low Overcast, almost foggy in some places near the water line
Meditation after coffee and a beach walk with Linda
Linda and I find a relatively secluded spot on the otherwise crowded beach.
Linda sets her iphone alarm for thirty minutes.
I take a few notes to myself and move back and forth between states a few times before settling in:
I imagine myself swimming just beneath the surface heading out toward
the drop off. For the most part I swim using my legs with only an occassional stroke or two
from my arms. I find myself deliberately slowing the pace of the kicking in an effort to be more relaxed. I decide to use as little energy as possible.
I realize that at this pace I will use up the entire time just getting to the edge
that I am headed for, so I make a mental leap to that destination and am there.
I give one last kick and begin to slowly move my arms diving deeper into the darker waters.
I notice that there is no sea life, then suddenly see a dolphin who seems to be welcoming me.
She swims nearby and then departs. I have a sense that she will be around if needed.
Before too long I see a shark. Not especially large, or particularly threatening. A Blue I think,
not really dangerouls, but still bigger than I am. We both attempt to circle the other. It soon departs.
In a little while a slightly larger white shark appears.
It too attempts to begin a closing circle manuever toward me. I head directly for it
and at the last moment flip backward 180 degrees and kick it in the snout. The beast takes off
and I feel victorious, for a moment, but before it has gone far it turns and heads back toward me.
This time it's coming straight at me. I am no longer as confident as I had been,
but continue to respond instinctively. I too swim toward my opponent. This time I hit the creature with my fist, right on the opening of one of it's smell receptors. It turns away quickly and scrapes my hand as it goes.
I rest motionless for an undeterminable amount of time contemplating the roughness of the shark's skin. Then in the distance I see it. A very large great white. Larger than I ever imagined. I remain still. Something tells me to do nothing. I remain as I have been.
I think that it will help if I close my eyes so that I don't panic so easily if it, no, no
when it comes closer.
I have accepted this encounter.
I deserve whatever happens. I shouldn't have tried to hurt that other shark.
I am not trying to get away. I am open to whatever happens.
I welcome this experience, no matter what.
I decide to reopen my eyes and see the shark moving toward me very slowly.
It is barely moving. It's mouth is open. I feel it's tongue touching my stomach.
It is tasting me. After a moment, it opens it's mouth wider and turns to leave, but scratches me
on both back and abdomen in several places, but they really are only scratches.
Linda is still deep in her meditation when I come out of the surf. As the water drips off of my skin, I realize
that I am naked. I think to myself. I hope she doesn't mind that I have nothing on, but just then I am back sitting beside her fully clothed. My left leg is beginning to fall asleep. I stretch it out slowly, and sensation starts to return and I look over at Linda.
Her eyes are open, but she is looking out to sea. I look down at my green tee shirt, glad that no blood is seeping through. Linda would not want any on the seats of her car.
