the tiny cottage where i spent a few days last week is about a block from the narragansett bay, which i remember from my youth as being incredibly polluted and sort of foul, though i never cared enough not to swim. i’m happy to report that it seems cleaner every year.

after each day’s 10-17 mile run, i’d go for a swim to help my legs recover (this really helps and was much nicer than the freezing cold baths i take after my long runs in seattle). over the course of two days, i saw giant conch shells, a starfish, and the biggest school of fish i had ever seen. i stood in waist-deep water with the sun on my back for 5-10 minutes waiting for the continuous stream of fish to peter out so that my swimming wouldn’t break them apart. about 50m out, a big fish jumped out of the water, grappling with a smaller one. it was a magic moment where i felt like i was of an ecosystem, in more than just an abstract way.

when the school of fish thinned, i went for a short swim and then came back onto shore to dry off in the sun. it was then that i heard trickling water running down the street and into the bay. i went to check it out when i was assaulted by the smell of chlorine. yes, someone was closing their pool for the season and letting all the incredibly toxic chlorine dump into the bay. i felt like that indian guy on that 70s please-don’t-litter psa. only i’m not indian. though neither was he. the indian was sicilian, the half-greek is half-italian.

bummer.

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