to the stars

There was a time when I couldn't wait for it to be the last day of April so I could go get a swim. It was many years ago now, but it was a thing I had with my sister and some of her friends. We'd go down to the, hrm I guess "sheep meadows" will have to do since that's what they were, watch the bonfire and then go down to the sea to take a swim. You see, where I live it's tradition to light a bonfire every April 30th. It's called "Valborgsmässoafton" [va:lb:orgsmess:o:aft:on] in Swedish and "Walpurgis Night" in English. (You know, I wonder if my phonetics actually help anyone. I doubt they'd help me.) It's basically a tradition in which you light a fire to welcome spring and shoo away winter. It's one of our heathen traditions that I'm so fond of. You see, according to the Christians of the past this was the night when bonfires were lit to keep the witches from going to the Devil and have the night of their life. Fires were lit on high hills and such to stop them. (I have to admit that I didn't actually know this - thank you wikipedia - and I know everything about anything. This is my entry - get used to it.)
Here in Sweden Walpurgis Night is basically a holiday. Most people only work half day and May 1st is our labour day so there is a lot of partying going on that day.
Hrm, I do believe I lost track here... Oh yes, the swim! During later years my swims have been pushed further and further into the year. You see, I don't like to swim alone and since no one wanted to swim with me I just didn't swim until it was warm enough for others. (I know - weaklings!) I even think there's been a year when I didn't swim at all because I was just working all year. That's a bit sad considering that water and beaches and swimming is in my blood. The salty smell of the ocean, the smooth feeling of sand between your toes, a late-night swim in the sunset... It's all part of me. So... yesterday I got it. All of it. It was more than I could've hoped for - it was more a dive in - dive out than an actual swim but all of me got under water, I had the company of my best friend (even though she didn't swim), I had a lovely sunset and I had the Baltic Sea. What more can you wish for?