Whispers from the waves
Carried over by the winds
Leaving Fort Lauderdale, I feel as open and remote, as an
expanse of blue sky and water with a few pale grey clouds. Those are the
picture of my moods, grey being my sadness that I had to leave. Travelling thousands of miles away from
China, and we met as if we said goodbye only yesterday. Where are those 40 years gone? 40 years were
wiped out. We ran, and swam like kids again.
We know that our tune are “old golden girls” Our skins are not as smooth and tight, our
eyes and faces not as fresh and youthful. We were called grandpas and grandmas
by the little swans. Yet with the swimming caps sporting red, blue and white, the brigade of “grannies” are more youthful
and lively . We appeared under the blue sky, flying our red star flags. We jumped into water and beat the waves. We
rocked and rolled, as we were kids.
Although we tried to be young, our knees are stiff and our
hips are less sturdy. We still lined up, and gracefully asking the winds to
send our greetings home, sporting the .synchronized swimming gestures.
However, the kids constantly remind us that we are grannies.
To be called upon by our third generation to face our mortality is not a “low
order”. We faced our ages by jumping
into the sea. And we realized 40 years did go by.
Fu Dajin called us the Granny team. The Reunion group
organized one Chinese team and the
Americans another. Many China born Chinese had turned coats to join the
American swimming team. In 1973, FINA drew the line in the water that we could
not swim at the same time in the same pool.
Today, we did a rematch, to break that “charm”. Led by our national red
star flag, and singing “song to the Athletes”, we marched in, exchanged gifts,
totally enjoyed the unique meet. Helen got a big bonus by joining the most
celebrated American team, being a diver and broke her record of slowest time in
breast stroke. We were all for the slogan “ competition third, health first and
friendship second.” A few of our old girls took the roles of referees with stop
watches. Oh what fun it is to swim with the 76 year old Fu Dajin, and with
Bruce next to him. Bruce gracefully, and slowly touched the end and slower than
Fu Dajin, who had once been the fastest flying fish in Asian. It is a real treat to see him swim, luckily
the movie “ enter the water dragon” records a short footage of him swimming in
his prime. Fu Dajin had his shoulder broken a few months ago, and pulled into
the water by us. The slogan for us “oldies”, just to finish the lap and that
was it. Helen was most confident that her modest goal would be fulfilled with
flying colors. She can’t be the first
with old Olympic champions around. But it posed no problem if she wished to be
the last. Which is the same as being the first.
The greatest challenge is not to compare oneself with others but with
oneself. Feeling better than a moment ago
is the reward we get every moment down the road, and we can’t deprave
ourselves of such gifts. China has old sayings in every thing thinkable and
there is one for us to reflect” if you compare goods, you need to throw away
the less perfect, if you compare people, the second to the first does not have
a place in the world. Try to give everybody a place to feel not less but
better. This is what age is teaching us. The world is not a breakfast for
champions only. All the raindrops reflect sun. Everybody has his/her own place
in the world, and individual road to travel. Upon this stage of our life, we
need to have new reference, new comparisons . We have gained wisdom, which only
age favors. We need to reflect on our own, be intimate with our own thoughts
and reflections. Comparing oneself to others is better left to the young. Our
life is going through our fingers quietly and steadily. Time runs through the
hour glass structured by our senses of
or mortal body and our position in space like golden sand and those are our
drops of joy and peaceful gratitude.
On the beach, swimmers carried a surfing board laden with
fresh flowers, they walked slowly and solemnly towards the sea. This was the
annual ceremony of remembering the swimming buddies who had passed away last
year. They spread greetings and prayers
over the winds far and wide.
On the beach, Mr. Qi had generously donated 3,000 dollars
for the cancer research. Other Chinese
also joined in and in return to their donation, they each got a gift—a floater
which was designed by Bruce, to reduce fatality over the sea. It immediately got a nickname as “fart
following bug”. (not very elegant but the most welcome currency of Beijing
style speechy expression) One could put
all the small bits in and held onto it when floating. The feel was comparable
to holding your mistress No.2 or No.3. Very wavy sensations.
After the open sea swim, everybody went to the closing
ceremony which was handled beautifully by Bruce’s beautiful wife and good boy
son. On the big screen the documentary of 1973 was being shown while Helen
invited all the volunteer members to come onto the stage. Bruce bowed three times as the Boss of the
Hall. Then more photo opps. Louise was busy twisting her tongue so she did not
get a chance either taking photos or watching the show. Please every participant; send your photos
and stories to share with us. You can
find those published on Sina, many people are waiting.
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