114 R and R

Well. It's amazing sometimes how a change will come about. Sometimes you can see it coming at you while you're frozen(deer in the headlights). You know it's coming, you see the end result and then, BAM!, it hits you. Sometimes it just creeps up on you. Like death stalking a fat, myopic, social retard who lives in his parent's basement, slurping energy drinks and gorging on cheeseburgers while his World of Warcraft character gets stronger and better looking.

Whew. The things that go through my mind. You know what I'm talking about, anyway. I was stressed the freak out by Saturday and about the middle of the scorching hot day, I suggested that we haul ass for the lake. Since Cheat Lake is not conducive to rest and relaxation for those of us who dont have more than an inflatable raft, and Deep Creek isnt any better, I suggested we go to the old standard from when the kids were little: Broadford.

You have to keep in mind that it was about 2500 degrees Celsius outside and the humidity was thick enough that fish were swimming right out of the water and breaking the previously unbreakable barrier of land and sky to swim right along side cars and confound small children riding their bikes. Allowing of course, that they pried their pudgy, lethargic fingers from the video game controls and text keys of their phones.

So there we were, throwing down towels in the shady grass bank, just outside of the roped off childrens area. As I tried to ease into the water, I kept thinking that it was about 3 degrees above freezing. It hit me that my body temperature was so hot, that any water under the boiling point was sure to feel like jumping into a tub of ice water. After getting the ol' "holy crap, my junk is receding and thereby turning me into a 6 year old because this water is so freakin cold" experience, I just decided to bail in all at once. It took about 7 to 9 seconds and it began to feel like I had passed over to the other side and began to enjoy one of the minor benefits of what must surely be my personal Heaven.

The water coming up from the bottom of the lake was quite cool and the water from the super-heated edge was mingling to create a sandy, wet utopia. Some of the fish starting to swim from the parking lot to the highway even turned around and came back when they heard the pleased sounds I was making. We stayed in the water for about an hour and a half, not wanting to take the chance that coming out would result in being steamed like a lobster in a pot. Eventually, we managed to grudgingly stretch out, still in partial shade, and try to wait for the cooking to come.

Funny thing: it never happened. As our body temperatures were significantly lowered, I suppose, from the cool water, the shade protected us from that hateful, glowing ball. As you may have guessed, I'm not a warm-weather person. I do better in the fall, always have, always will. Not to say that I dont like a nice warm day once in a while, I just dont like baking and suffocating in heat and high humidity. So, I pulled my hat down over my face and just lay there, soaking in a slight breeze and the shifting shade, although the breeze was a bit warm.

Just like that, peace and contentment slapped me upside the head. I felt relaxed, not one iota of stress. I cannot overstate it enough: I cant recall even a vacation when I felt so contented. Tomorrow didnt exist. Technology, taxes and annoying coworkers didnt exist. Home and hearth, aggravating friends and neighbors, hungry pets: none of it existed or even mattered if it did. There was only the smell of the air, the water, the trees. There was only a waving shade, a kissing breeze and the low din of voices, punctuated by children's laughing and playful shreiks. I really dont know how it happened and I dont care if I ever do. I felt as relaxed as I ever have in my conscious life. I suppose as an infant I may have felt that way, but then, who among us remembers that far back?

I cant recall how long I layed there, not that I cared. The amazing thing was that often, we all know these moments are few and precious, so we agonize with the knowledge that they must end. Not the case here. Not ONE thing worried me, except when the spider crawled up my elbow. After a 3 second hissy fit, I was back in the zone. Those few hours stretched out next to the sand were worth more to me than all the vacations that I have ever taken. I cannot explain it and I will not look a gift horse in the mouth.

You should all be so lucky, perhaps you have been. I am still amazed at how a few hours of my life, pinned to a last minute decision have changed my attitude so quickly. A few days ago I felt a palpable stress. I was a clinging, gelatinous mass that was draped over me, filling my pores, my eyes and permeating my brain. Every aspect of daily life was a stressful decision waiting to be made and then....nothing.

The closest I can come and it will only cheapen it, trust me, is from the movie Office Space when Ron Livingston's character is being hypnotized and the therapist dies mid-hypnosis, leaving him in a state of eternal bliss and relaxation. It truly cleared my mind. So, I will leave you to ponder my words and wonder if I just went nuts or if there really is something to it. I hope you realize the value of little things. I hope you can achieve even a small bit of how I felt. It had been so long since I felt even a fraction of that happiness that doesnt involve loved ones, I suppose it felt like I was the only person to ever be that contented and not spend 12 years in a Buddhist monastary meditating.

May peace and contentment be yours, if even only for a moment. THAT is how I spent my Saturday....How's your day going?