***
Less than a week ago, I was visiting Alabama and my grandmother said, “I see your Instagram. You are always getting into something.”
Well, my Sunday definitely met that energy.
So far, the waves had only lapped at the rock, not threatening just doing their job. But this wave - though I couldn’t tell at the time - this wave was rogue. Tall, powerful and impartial. As it came over the rock, I gulped a breath and held tightly to my fins and buoy. The whitewash knocked me down and I rode the wave, my mind repeating “Don’t hit your head”. The wave passed over me. As soon as I could, I grabbed another breath. Anticipating the wave’s return to the ocean, I held my breath again before the water slapped against my face.
That wave was gone but I expected another and I wanted to be in the ocean as soon as I could to avoid a repeat fall. The back of my left leg smarted but only felt like a bruise, not a gash. I also needed to get out of the way so those behind me could jump afterward. I plunged and swam hard away from the rock.
To my surprise, the three friends on the rock were further back than I remembered. Once I was closer to a fellow swimmer, it became clear that there were serious injuries on at least two of the three.
Back on land, we headed to urgent care with fears of broken bones, deep puncture wounds and a concussion. The staff directed us to wait outside in compliance with their COVID procedures, which was much better than a waiting room frankly. All told, we spent about 4 hours at urgent care, tailgating in the parking lot. I grabbed snacks for us during a pharmacy run. All the classics: tortilla chips, honey roasted peanuts, chocolate covered cherries, almond nut thins for those among us who are gluten free. Then two others from the crew - including the third injury who busted her foot in the rogue wave - brought a round of loco moco (5 plates!). My gratitude was immense; it was my first meal of the day.
A couple of patients asked us what the occasion was. Was this a COVID test tailgate party? Nope, just a crew waiting to be sure their friends were okay. (I did joke that we were waiting for our friend to have a baby.)
Eventually, our friends were released. A sprained wrist, broken pinky, tetanus shots, wound dressings, stitches - but smiles, too. The patients regaled us with their medical reports before sitting down to eat their much deserved loco mocos. We considered what had transpired, exchanging versions of what had happened tweaked by perspective.
For all that went wrong, we could see how much we had to be thankful for. No one hit their head, not even the possible concussion we were worried about. Tumbling like that could have knocked someone out and put them in the ocean. Even dealing with a minor injury while swimming in the ocean can be a nightmare. Then there’s shock to deal with on top of it all. But no one went into the water against their will. In additional gratitude, it is still unknown how I left this event unscathed aside from a small abrasion on my hand and a scratched smartwatch, especially since I was the first one to encounter the wave. The person with the broken pinky, puncture wound and stitches said she thought I was dead when the water hit. I figured I’d received the worst of it as well and assumed the others were unscathed and would be right behind me, which is why I jumped into the ocean when I had no serious damage.
As I sit here safe and sound at home in the peace that comes after the crisis once the adrenaline has calmed, I remember being out on a swim early this year and being stung in the face by a jellyfish. Two of those hurt today were among those who swam me back to shore, rushed to the lifeguard tower and held my hand as the worst of the pain rolled over me. They were calm in the crisis and I hope I served them in the same way today. I am so grateful for these friends. They are steady, trustworthy, brave. We each bring individual strengths that braid into one another and soften our individual weaknesses. We each showed up today and stuck it through in wonderfully unique and creatively beautiful ways. What more could I ask for in an adventure crew? There’s no bonding like tailgating at an Urgent Care.