The Black Angel
For some reason I broke my own rule
I went into the jacuzzi before swimming
Getting too relaxed makes working out difficult
Doing it in that order - places the workout at risk of getting canceled
I was speaking with a lovely older woman
She politely declared that "she has multiple sclerosis"
She continued describing that she is able to do a lot of normal exercise
She was a lovely conversation - she said she loves both swimming and scuba
We had a lot to speak about while being from very different walks of life
I could sense in her a type of fragility and worry about doing regular exercises
It was clear she could do normal things but needed to do so with careful concern
Just over her shoulder I noticed another woman walk into the pool area
The second woman may have been around 15 or 20 years my junior
Her silent, focused intensity captured my awareness right away
All business - she entered and she looked at no one
She went straight from locker room to pool and jumped in without hesitation
She started swimming right away - there was no easing into it - it was all go
Around that time that I wrapped up my chat
This was an opportunity I could not miss - so I didn't miss it!
I took up the open lane next to the younger woman yet in my own slow way
Her pale white skin in contrast to her all-black one piece bathing suit is what I saw first
Later I also noticed - she has jet black hair and a piercing gaze that matches her swim
It had been a few days since my last swim which was both good news and bad
Being in the jacuzzi and skipping earlier workouts - made me want to begin slow
As the black angel had begun a few minutes earlier than me on that particular day
It didn't surprise me that she was swimming much faster than I was in my warmup
What did surprise me is that as my warm up gave way to my actual workout
Which includes fins and paddles, somehow this woman didn't just outpace me
She was out-swimming me - for over 20 straight laps - without the use of any gear
I wanted to believe a friendship was being born - but in the pool was not the time to try
I casually peeled off my own 30 laps in 30 minutes while remaining mute of the fact
That I'd witnessed her probably outpace me by 20-25% in both speed and distance
I wanted to finish up just before her, on the off chance that we could make eye contact
I was thinking maybe we could share a joke or some respect or common interest
I didn't look at her as I exited my lane - nor did she make eye contact with me
All this despite my having seated myself in a place
Where we could acknowledge each other easily
She demurely exited the pool and placed a lovely white sash around her hips
After casually drying off a bit and pointedly interacting with her nearby phone
This is how we meet a big time swimmer without pressing the matter
Not by running over there and asking for an autograph
But by earning respect & not behaving like a clown
She targeted a time when no one is at the pool
It was a time when the pool was almost empty
I didn't have to meet her or know her just then
My heart swells to just to know she is out there
She reminds me of Angel Page - 40 years younger
Such a fast swimmer - such a talented boss of a woman
What's truly impressive is that after all of that
After never seeing her before that particular day
I was able to see her on the exact day after that
Everything was the same - same black bathing suit - same white sash
Same businesslike approach - same time checking phone after doing laps
The part that was different is that this time I didn't jump in and swim next to her
I kept my position in the jacuzzi and waited for her to complete her amazing workout
I did for her - what someone else had done for me so much earlier in my building up
The difference is that this time I was able to find the right moment to make an introduction
I was careful not to take too much of her time - I had meditated on my single question
What I really wanted to know was - how far does she swim during her workout
When I briefly asked her this question she was very sweet & kind in response
I'm not sure what I was expecting - as a person her kindness surprised me
For someone who was such an effective swimmer - she was just so nice
Me: How far do you swim?
Her: *surprised* excuse me?
Me: I saw you doing your laps
Me: I'm wondering how far you swim
She: *still collecting herself*
Me: ...
She: I do 2000 meters
Me: You make it look easy
She: *exasperated* um!
She: Thank you?
Me: You have a lovely stroke
Her: Thank you!
Me: I'm Tiny, I swim here too
Her: I'm ___, Nice to meet you!
It was at this point that she did something that surprised me even more
As the black angel introduced herself to me, after I was lucky enough to see her
After I was lucky enough to swim in the lane next to her, then see her again
She then offered me a lovely smile and she did, get this, a small curtsey
That's the thing about doing the same old same old routine at the gym
One day we go out there and see something we never expected
See you on the flip side
Bubbles
-out