Dipping my toes in

Yes. You have it here, folks. Actual proof that some part of my body actually touched wild, natural, free water this past summer. Not just the bathtub, nor the shower in the privacy of my home, but actual real live, Ogopogo-filled LAKE water!

Here is the spot where the momentous occasion went down ... on the beach by Okanagan Lake. Nothing particularly special about the day, other than I was there on holidays for the week.

We would be moving my mom into her new condo the following morning, but on that day we didn't have anything better to do but wait for the movers. So my sis, her kids, as well as a friend & her kids, and myself presented ourselves to the sand and warm sun for a fabulous day by the water. I even managed to get a little tan on my flesh, even as my sister had slathered me with the highest spf tanning lotion possible.

While the kids played in the water, my sister & her friend took out their notebooks and began setting goals for themselves. It was all very self-affirming, but I'd brought along a good book to read and so immersed myself in that. Saving the personal self-reflection and introspection for a rainy day ...

We even had a little visitor come by, begging for treats. Those beach ducks are perfectly brazen! But getting back to the purpose of this post ...

At some point I grew tired of reading and listening to the other two with their shrewd goal planning, so I set the book aside and got up to stretch my legs. The gentle lapping of the water drew me to the shoreline. The kids assured me the water was warm, but I was still hesitant. The last time I'd swam in an uncontrolled water environment [read: lake], a baby's full diaper had floated by me ...

Then I made the big mad crazy leap, and walked into the water.

And took this picture.

— Bonz