Pacific Ocean, a shoreline somewhere in Hawaii
After being slammed down by an unexpected wave, and then twisted around underwater, I open my eyes to a surprising darkness. I had been loving swimming and bodysurfing in the waters of Hawaii, especially compared to the freezing surf of northern California. But now, pressed down under the waves, I think wow, which way is it to the surface? I trust that I will float to the surface, and I relax. I was probably underwater for only seconds, but in my memory, I float to the surface in slow motion, pulled up by the rays of sunlight reaching out to me through the water.
Last week I heard an author talking about water say, “we swam before we walked.” I love this thought, both as humans coming out of the womb, and as descendants of critters who crawled on to the shore. As inhabitants of this planet, we are all dependent on water. Immersed in water, I feel both embraced and the joy of weightlessness, and at other times humbled by its power.
Shari Arai DeBoer • she/her • El Sobrante, California
Shari Arai DeBoer is a visual artist who enjoys examining wonders of the natural world, the minutiae of everyday life, and her own family stories in the context of larger issues. Her weekly meditation practice consists of swimming laps at The Richmond Plunge.
