Day before yesterday I had to sneak my swim in before the end of the workday. I got in the water around 2:15, ahead of the high school swim team at 3:00. After warm up I noted the guy in the lane next to me: older (70+) with a nice freestyle stroke and a better backstroke.
We exchanged pleasantries, mostly about how great it was to be in the water. Then he said something like, "It's good for getting rid of the hate." I found this peculiar. "How's that?" I asked.
He identified himself as a surgeon. Forty years ago he was sued by a lawyer with whom he'd been social. "A week before he filed the suit," said the doctor, "we had dinner together with our wives at his home." He became consumed with anger and hatred. The case lasted five years, then was dismissed. But the anger stuck around. Ultimately the surgeon, from New York state, found swimming. He worked in five hospitals, each in a different community. He bought pool memberships at five different pools. Every day after work, the man made a beeline for the corresponding pool. Day after day, the swim calmed him, and washed off the hatred. But he had to do it, every single day.
He worked another 25 years, swimming all the while. Fifteen years after that, he's still swimming. And it's still washing off the anger.
Imagine: swimming every single day, just to calm you enough to avoid killing your adversary. He's better now, but still wouldn't risk an encounter with the lawyer.
Wow.
Been thinking about that story nonstop. Had to file it here.
