I was hoping I would, wondering if I could and

I did it! I had not been to water class (the one concession on my part to any effort at healthiness) in months.  The water aerobics class has been, for several years, the example of how I am trying to improve my physical condition.  BUT, you pretty much have to actually go the pool and get in.

Actually, I wasn't at the pool during the class, but I went to the club and was in the pool about an hour before class time. No, I wasn't playing a game with myself; I didn't think I'd be there two hours, perhaps not even a full hour.

And, I didn't stay an hour; but, by golly, I was in the pool for 30 minutes and was in motion the entire time.  Now, please understand I'm not a good swimmer. While I love being in the water, I splash around like a .... well, I'm not sure how to describe it.  Let's just leave it at 'splash around'.  I can swim, but not well, nor gracefully, nor effectively.  I can get along, but I'll never win at any competitive water activity.

Nevertheless, I walked, ran, swam for 30 minutes. All of that counts since moving in the water carries benefits beyond the sheer pleasure of the water itself and the wonderful feeling of grace and lightness (physical as well as light-heartedness).

If I like it so much, why have I stayed away?  And it does appear to be a matter of 'staying away', as in choosing not to go. It goes back, partially, to stomach problems and gall bladder surgery; weeks of recovery, regaining strength, etc.

But I stretched it out far too long. I just had to go back, whenever and for whatever length of time, to the water. Now I've broken the inertia that kept me from taking that step.  Thank God!

Frankly, the business of genuine physical problems and significantly reduced activity, have left me feeling my age.  Being 50-16 is good; it's better than not living this long; but feeling that old ain't too good.  So now, perhaps -- please God! -- I am turning a curve, reversing some bad trends, getting in the groove.  I don't care what you call it.

I just know that it feels mighty good to step out of the general malaise of these past months.  It actually does feel like stepping into a sunny space, out from under the overcast sky.  Now I just have to keep doing the good things.