SoCS: Way Down Below the Ocean

Today’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is:  “above/below.” Use one, use both, use ’em however they inspire you. Bonus points if you use them both. Enjoy!

The first thing I thought of was being under water. I love swimming under water in a pool with a mask so I can see the wavy lines of light. Swimming gave me great comfort in rough times. Last summer, remember when it was warm, I tried to teach my grand daughter to swim. She got really good at swimming UNDER the water, but has yet to trust the water to hold her up to swim above the water for more than a couple of strokes. She’ll get it though.

Once upon a time, I had a dream that I could swim under water and breathe under water, too. It was as natural as breathing above the water. Did you ever see the movie, The Shape of Water ? It’s one of my favorites. It’s a love story, AND it has a happy ending. It’s a strange movie. Intriguing. Some hard parts where I had to remind myself, “Its just a MOVIE.” But the ending is fascinating. Here’s the trailer:

The water creature is played by the same guy who plays the alien Saru in Star Trek Discovery, Doug Jones who is an actor, contortionist, and mime. Also staring in The Shape of Water, is Olivia Spencer who is in a lot of my favorite movies, like Hidden Figures, The Help, and she played God in The Shack. Sally Hawkins plays the main character who is mute. She did a good job.

Earlier in the stream, I thought of an old song by Donovan called “Atlantis,” because there’s the part that goes, “Way down below the ocean, where I wanna be, she may be….” or something like that.

I miss the beach and swimming. I was going to join the YMCA for the pool, but instead, joined a small, cozy gym and have been going to a personal trainer for the first time in my life. There’s a restorative yoga class there Saturday at 10 am which is why I’m going to maybe publish this post early. I am not a morning person. Maybe with the personal trainer and yoga and other classes which are part of “Silver Sneakers,” I’ll be ready to swim well by the time it gets warm enough to go in the ocean.

I took a scuba diving course in my twenties but didn’t follow up with it. Swimming under water with Scuba gear was the most wonderful feeling – like being on another planet. We ever saw a school of barracuda. I had to be in the water a lot because I get seasick on a rocking boat…. Maybe some day, I’ll go scuba diving again.

Before you watch this video of “Atlantis,” the song, imagine it’s warm.

Enjoy the mermaids!

Happy Valentines Day!

For more about Stream of Consciousness Saturday and takes on the prompt, visit Linda Hill at:

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Feb. 13, 2021 | (lindaghill.com)

Peace and Darth Vader

A stream of consciousness post from my sci-fi side:

Thanks to “Harsh Reality” for asking the question:

“Who else is tired of all the killing and would like a little peace?”

http://aopinionatedman.com/2014/09/12/the-daily-opinion-peace/comment-page-1/#comment-184976

One of his comments got me to thinking about whether an alien invasion would unite humanity and bring peace. It could, ultimately. But it would probably take a while, like when Darth Vader ultimately brought balance to the force as predicted. It just took a really long time for Vader to turn back into Anakin Skywalker and throw the evil emperor into the whatchamacallit. Luke believed his father could be saved when he said, “I know there is good in him. I have felt it.” He was right. But don’t let that keep you in an unhealthy or abusive relationship. Luke didn’t live with his crazy, bully of a father. He only visited long enough to trick the emperor into getting thrown to his death. (Luke had huge faith in the Force.) If Anakin had survived, his torment would have been hard to live with.

I found this touching video of the death of Vader/Anakin where he recalls happier moments:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qruijbk6_VU

What I really like about this story is that while Anakin turning to the dark side brought despair instead of the balance the Jedi knights hoped for, this had to happen so that he could eventually kill the emperor many years later in order to save his son who saved him. Everything had seemed so wrong, but worked out right in the end.

So never give up hope. Speaking of which, let’s hope peace comes to our planet, without an alien invasion, unless it’s a invasion of logic from the Vulcans.

Has there been a time in your life when things seemed all wrong, but eventually worked out right?