TheBanyanTree: hooky

[Teague, Julie Anna]

I had to call in sick at work for part of this morning.  It was the 
most amazing weather this morning: sunny and 65, with an unseasonal 
high in the 70's today.  The trees are at peak color.  I decided I had 
to get out on the lake and row.  Had to.  Days like this are not meant 
to be spent in dark office spaces.  I got out there early, scattering 
deer into the woods, and spread a blanket on a hill next to the rowing 
clubhouse overlooking the lake. The sun was just coming up, turning the 
sky pink and purple and casting big rays of purple and orange out 
across the lake water. Cabin and dock lights flickered here and there 
around the lakefront.  A speed boat went by, creating ripples across 
the surface that cut the lake into ribbons, like Venetian blinds, of 
dark water and sun struck water. I could've sat there all day.  One of 
those moments in life when I could've died happy, right then and there.

The other three rowers showed up and we decided to take out two doubles 
instead of the big quad shell.  A double is about the trickiest boat to 
row.  A quad is heavier, sits lower in the water, and is much more 
stable with eight oars on the water.  A single relies on just one 
person staying balanced and going at their own speed and is much easier 
to turn.  A double requires both people to remain balanced and 
perfectly in sync.  If one stroke is off sync, or one person zigs when 
the other zags, the boat can go over quite easily.  For a novice like 
myself, it requires such earnest concentration.  Plus I'd just attended 
a rowing clinic, given by the most experienced members of the club, 
Rudy and Kay, this past Saturday, so I was trying to work on some 
things that they pointed out to me.  So this morning, it required 
almost exhausting concentration to focus on all those things together, 
all the while with the most magnificent sky blazing up all around me, 
the trees on the surrounding hills all lighting up in the sunshine and 
burning brilliant red and yellow and orange, and all of this reflected 
on the glassy, still water.  Lake breeze in my hair.  Pleasant 
companion and fun banter.  Free from time constraints.  No worries. 
Heaven.