EPISODE 1.107: BEACH AT RICHARD’S PARK LOOKS LIKE SAND…BUT IT IS NOT SAND
alan skeoch
Sept/ 22. 2024
“Swimming will be good for your new knee, Alan.”
WE went for another swim at Richard;s Park. The beach was empty
at first then a young woman arrived. Cheerful person. Recent Ukranian
refugee it seemed.
I wallowed around in the surf propped up with my wooden cane which gave
me the advantage of a three point posture. Without the cane I would
topple for sure.
The swim was delightful up to the moment we decided to leave the
water. I wallowed to the shore. Very unsteady. The sandy shoreline was very
soft. Impossible for me to wade as my legs just sank into the gumbo.
“Marjorie, I cannot stand…too weak…these small waves are pushing me over.”
“Don’t get so excited.”
“Cannot stand…no pruchase…I’m going over.”
‘YIKES! ..I’M dowm!”
And then almost instantly I was rescued by two angels. Marjorie and the
Ukrainian swimmer. They fought the waves and tried to get me
back on my feet.. It was not easy because the sand just would
not let me stand. My legs sank into the sand as they laboured to
get purchase. I tried to help but legs kept pushing through the sand
as the small waves buffeted all three of us.
“There, we made it. Thanks to you two.”. The Ukrainian girl did not speak
English She smiled and left us. “Without her I do not know what we could
have done, Alan.”
“ Could have wallowed my way to the hard sand, Guess…I was not
going to drown.”
There was something odd about the sandy shoreline. Odd indeed.
It was not sandy. Looked like sand. But the shoreline was composed
of thousands…hundreds of thousands of tiny plastic balls. Grains of
sand…a fake shore. That’s why my cane and legs failed. All three
penetrated the plastic microchips. A deceptive shoreline.
CURLING DECISION — SAD
“My balance is not good, Marjorie. These plastic miniballs defeated me.”
“You cannot go curling”
“But I am the skip of my team. They expect me.”
“You cannot even stand on a sandy shore…how will you stand on ice?”
She was right of course.
Those millions of plastic balls that lined the shore at Richard’s Park were reminders of
just how we have mismanaged planet earth. It is a fake beach. A trap for unsteady feet.
I had to send a note to John Morton that I would be unable to curl. I let down my
team. But had I toppled on the unforgiving ICE of the High Park Curing Rink and hit my head
there would be no angels of mercy like Marjorie and that Ukrainian refugee.
alan
My knee was replaced on December 12, 2023. The operation
went well but the recovery has been long and painful due to a
reaction to the drug used.