Lauaki

Holy crap! Are they kidding me? How can they expect us to paddle for such a long period of time without any training or exercise? My shoulders are burning. Burning. It's like needles of fire in my muscles. No, not just needles - knitting needles. Jumbo-size. No, not even that - scalding metal wedges, prying apart the fiber of my muscles. God. No one else is whimpering. Or begging for mercy. Gotta stick with the pace. Can't let down the team. Ungh!

Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. No one else is saying a word. Maybe they've all keeled over and plopped quietly into the sea, one by one, overcome with exertion. Oooh. Falling into the sea. That would feel so good. So coooooool on my aching muscles. I sneak a peek behind me. Huh. They're still all there. How are they DOING this? Maybe they all go to to gym. And lift weights. A lot. Christ, if they had warned me about this, I could have gone too, gotten ready for this marathon.

Trying not to hate Lisa. Trying not to hate Lisa. She has a strong stroke. No dainty slow strokes for this canoe. She really leans forward and digs her paddle into the water. Oooh, ooh. Can't do that. I pulled a muscles in my back trying to change into my swimsuit in the bathroom at work. How stupid is that? Can't lean forward or my back twinges, although not as bad as my shoulders. I think those muscles are actually liquifying and melting out the sleeves of my t-shirt. Or perhaps that's sweat. I dunno. All I know is that I gotta paddle, paddle, paddle. Can't let down the team.

Ungh! Trying not to hate Kawika. What do you mean, we can stop after we've passed the blue catamaran? Whoooooa, that's so far away! Ungh, ungh, ungh. Gotta keep the beat. Gotta paddle, paddle, paddle - HUT! Ok, gotta change sides, make sure I don't bump into Reid. Ungh. What's that trick again? Oh yeah, pull back stronger with the lower arm, let the upper arm do the guiding. Ngh. A little better. Was I splashing Sheryl?

Oh god. Finally we get to rest. I tentatively release the paddle and uncurl my fingers. The water looks cool, clear, and wonderful, but with my shoulder muscles burned out, there's no way I could haul myself back in the boat. I'd flounder and flap in the water like a jellyfish. I risk a poke. Huh. Shoulders still there. How can that be?

Ok, can't go all the way in, but can at least stick my feet in the water. Ah, ah. Feels so good! I lean back and let my eyes unfocus. Some of my teammates slip into the water, frolic alongside the boat. People laugh, talk story. Kawika points out the three streams that feed into the beach, helps us spot Leahi Hospital (we imagine KCC behind it), and makes us laugh. Eh, maybe I don't hate Kawika. I love the rocking of the boat. It's so peaceful. I'm so glad we're out here on the water.

Too soon, we have to head for home. Lisa, cheerful as ever, gives the call to start paddling. She's such a strong paddler. We're lucky to have her setting an even pace. Can't let down the team by missing her beat. I'm grateful for her guidance, and for Kawika's. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have had this gift of time in the ocean. My shoulders still burn, but not, I think as much. Anyway, doesn't matter if they do; I still have to keep the beat, not let down the team, help do my part to get us safely home. I am so grateful for everyone in the canoe, working in unison for the same goal.

Lauaki. Working together as a team. Without the team, I would not have driven myself as far. If I were kayaking by myself, I would have paddled off the shore and come straight back. The feeling that I needed to support the team kept me going way, way after I would have stopped of my own accord. Is this a concept that will work for our students? Is this a concept that will work for us?

Pondering this will have to wait until after I take some ibuprofen.