A GPS compilation of all my swims in 2008
2008 Bay Swims
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Abandon Hope!!
When I died and got to the gate of Heaven I was bewildered by the sign above the Pearly Gates, “Abandon Hope all Ye Who Enter Here!!” It’s the type of sign I expect to see leading to a dungeon or something. I got a chill up the back of my spine and for a minute I panicked and thought I must be in the other place. Perhaps did not lead such a life of virtue after all. But there was Saint Peter standing there. He saw the puzzlement on my face, “Is there a problem?” He asked. “Isn’t this Heaven?” I replied a little sheepishly. “I’m just a little confused by the sign. “Aw, yes,” said Saint Peter, “We do not want anyone to have any hope here in Heaven.” “But I thought Heaven was good?” I said. “Oh, it is,” affirmed Saint Peter.” “But then why do you not want people to have any hope, isn’t hope good?” I asked. “I can understand you puzzlement,” Saint Peter said, “You see a person that has hope is looking to the future for something rather than being in the moment. When a person is not being in the moment, how may not enjoy all the benefits of Heaven, here and now?” Now I understood. He must have seen the light bulb go off over me head. “So, are you ready to abandon all hope?” He asked. I nodded my head, “Then that my son, is Heaven. Welcome!”
Because I Love You
You must be here to teach me
A catalyst of such sorrow
Only because I love you
How I’d like to know
Or do I really love you
As much as I’d want
For reasons so selfish
You don’t get on the ball
At a distance you keep
Close enough to see
Yet too far away to touch
Reasons I don’t follow
No word has been given
So your needs I don’t know
Love has become thwarted
No explanation at all
What are you trying to teach me
For what lessons did I request
In another lifetime distant
That my mind doesn’t recall
Yet I remember what love is
The will to let go
Then his grace will carry me
Beyond all my sorrow
And in that state of surrender
I must watch you go
Because I love you
How I’ll never know
Thanksgiving Poem
Half serving of everything
With respect for each taste
Eaten twice as slow
Nothing goes to waist
Food is God
With attention each bite
I take in his goodness
And reverence will ignite
Twenty minutes to pass
Before refilling my plate
I will just say “no”
To Holiday weight
So I sit in gratitude
On this gluttonous night
Health is what’s central
To last all my life
I’ll enjoying the meal
But know this godsend
The true source of joy
Are my family and friends
Entangled
Entangled with a woman
A welcomed fact of life
Not a choice of his own
He trembles inside
A princess of her own making
Or through a bloodline
Every gift he will give her
Until he’s run dry
A greater fortune awaits
The storybooks have implied
In this faded treasure map
He will have to confide
Once the first step is made
There is no place to hide
It is her own reaction
That draws his next stride
He wants to crumble
Oh he wants to cry
As he exposes the tender spots
Normally tucked inside
A misstep to the left
He slips and he slides
A misstep to the right
With a wall he collides
Through bumps and bruises
He will have to abide
They shave his rough spots
They humble his pride
This elusive target
He may always be denied
For it’s not the destination
It is about the ride
Pretty Face
There is nothing like a pretty face
To make the world fade away
Sometimes they shy away
Or they turn around and run
But sometimes they gaze right back
As they draw ever so near
Eyes absorb each pleasant feature
As the words she speaks fill my ear
A voice so sweet as the scented air
The things to say and hear
Balance her material beauty
With a portrait of who she was
Who she was and who she will be
And all the things she does
Essential things that lead her here
To a moment just the two of us share
In this second they disappear
And we draw just a little more near
Love Is …
Love is a state of balance
As content as a cat
Sitting basking in the sun
Detached from outer influence
Until something will interrupt
A pang of hunger
An unexpected noise
Trigger a rush of feeling
Disrupting equilibrium
These limits of the body
Spring it into action
To search for edible things
Or a protected place to hide
Until at last once more
It comes to rest again
Free from outer influence
And meditate
But perhaps there’s a blockade
Action is not granted
Feelings never go away
Balance never restored
And love begins to fade
Until we invent new ways
To feel again the state
Fantasy and addictions
Based on outer things
Alas none of it will stay
When we come face to face
With inevitability of change
With shovel and pick we must dig
Through the barriers that froze us
And return back to equilibrium
The proper way
Turtle Scratching
I found myself wandering in a swampy area. My shoes were getting wet, but it did not bother me. I saw little bumps moving towards me like an animal under the muddy surface, but I did not feel threatened. As they got closer they broke the surface. Turtles, they were turtles. They continued towards me. I have heard about snapping turtles, but did not feel threatened by these. They came up to me an nuzzled my feet, like my cat would with his nose when he wants me to pet him. I pushed the turtles away with my feet, but they persisted. Then I heard a voice inside my head, “Turtles like to be scratched on their shells.” I thought this strange since I did not think they could feel through their shells, but I obeyed and started scratching one on its shell. It stopped in its tracks as if to enjoy the moment. Then it slowly rolled over to expose its belly. I continued to scratch its belly. As I scratched the mud wiped away to expose the pink flesh color of the skin, much like human skin. It rolled back over onto its belly to expose its back and I kept scratching. It rolled back to expose its belly, once again covered with mud. As I scratched away the mud I could see the turtle was becoming upset. It looked up at me, “It is not use,” it said, “no matter what I will get it muddy again.” “Well it is a dirt world you live it.” I said back to the turtle.
At this point I awoke from my dream by the telephone ring. The imagery of the turtle stuck with me. Why some dream imagery is more powerful than other? Perhaps the message is more important to me … if dream imagery does indeed contain messages. I went to my dream dictionary and looked up “turtles.” “Within three days you will witness a strange occurrence. You will be shocked and wish you had never seen this. Do whatever you can to avoid this by rescheduling all planned events during this time period. You will also de very successful when bargain hunting. Barter with others and you will quickly accumulate many items you wish to purchase. You will experience good health, tranquility and harmony for a long time to come.
Everything
Everything that I have done
I now regret
Though it seemed OK at the time
Everything that I have done
I now regret
Because you are not at my side
Sacred Duty
Perhaps is was just an arrow
From that sneaky Cupid’s bow
That draws man and woman
Beyond their control
It becomes a sacred duty
Together woman and man
To learn to love one another
And help each other grow