The Towel on the Bench on Cedar Ave
There are a few benches in my neighborhood. I walk my dog Lucy past the bench on Cedar almost every morning. There's always something safe and calming about seeing a towel there, or some flip-flops, or swimmers' gear. I like seeing the buoys out on the water. They look like pink bubbles floating by. I especially like seeing them when it's winter. That tells me that someone with brass balls is out there, giving it all they've got. Sometimes you can tell who it is -- stroke style, cap color, speed, or swim pattern. You wouldn't think so, but you can. In my case, I'm the one that is kind of au natural because I don't wear goggles and only wear a cap in winter. It's been 18 months now, and I still can't bring myself to put my head in the water. That would be 100% committing to the cold. As it is, I often use a different launch point other than Cedar. The beach gives you a place to rinse your hair and wash your feet -- in the warmer months anyway. But l...