My kids grew up with certain given truths. Any party at our house is going to involve costumes.
Any snow day will involve staying home from school to play in the snow, even if school is not officially canceled.
And Mom doesn’t go in the water. Not in pools. Not in lakes. And especially not in oceans. That was their Dad’s province, and just one of the reasons I married him.
These truths were held to be self-evident, until our first trip to Hawaii.
Not since I was a child had I experienced such a personal relationship with water, warm night air, and moonlight all at once.
Snorkeling changed my life.
Just under the surface was an alien world, wonder-full, completely new to me. As close as I’ll ever come to being a virgin again!
My kids even coaxed me into the swimming pools there. Especially at night the atmosphere was surreal.
Warm, clear, and calm, but with sound of the surf ever present.
For a little while, we were amphibians.
Merfolk.
Golden.
My kids still know that any party we have at our house is going to involve costumes. They know that snow days are for staying home and playing in the snow, no matter what anyone else thinks. And they know Mom doesn’t go into the water. Not in pools. Not in lakes. Especially not in oceans.
Except in Hawaii!
Click here for more interpretations of The Weekly Photo Challenge: Nighttime.
Click here, for more interpretations of Ailsa’s Weekly Travel Theme: Liquid.
All words and images c2012 Naomi Baltuck
Writing Between the Lines 