i'd
already been in for a swim, decided to have some
fun
by standing at water's edge, staying put in one
place to let
the
swelling tide creep over my toes, rise above my
ankles.
i was surprised to see my neighbor's rowboat so
low on his
beach; squinted but couldn't make out where the
bowline
was tied off but figured it must have been
anchored. they
say a rising tide lifts all boats, and his was no
exception.
in 10 years of lifeguarding, i only ever made two
saves,
but i felt the training stir in my blood as the
untethered
vessel began drifting away, borne by wind against
the
tidal surge. i acted with alacrity, waded in and
dragged it
back to his place, where cocktail hour was in full
effect.
"james!" i shouted, "is this your boat?" he beamed
as he
shook my hand and i felt like a real hero. and
with true
heroic humility i swam back to the public beach.
back
home, i got to thinking aloud about love thy neighbor. |
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