After a rigorous bike ride that takes us on a 24 mile round trip, the muscles are screaming to be left alone.
With every step the legs get tighter and heavier making it feel like you are walking through thick Mississippi mud in the spring. What better than to head for the beach and waste the afternoon away by just lying on the white sandy beach and soaking in the sun. We were joined by our friends Janis and Jerry. 
Once we arrived at Sombrero Beach we set up our camp which consisted of four lounge chairs, an umbrella, cooler, books and a paddle ball game. One glance at the bunch of us, a few minutes later, it looked like four pieces of wonder bread all buttered up getting toasted as we lay on our racks for the suns toasting. With my skin starting to get hot from the rays I decided to jump into the water and cool off. As I dipped my foot into the clear liquid lapping the shore it sent a cold chill through my body indicating that my toe thermometer said it is cold. The only way to get into a body of water like this is to just jump right in. This statement would soon be true for someone else. If only he didn't listen to that advice.As the water hit my chest it felt like a sumo wrestler had sat on it as the air was pushed out of my lungs with the cold. Swimming around to try and get warm my aching muscles just cried out in desperation to end the assault on them. Determined to get warm again I exited the water and challenged Reta to a game of Paddle Ball. Its a simple game that we picked up at some beach bonanza store and have enjoyed playing it whenever we are on a beach. It consists of, for those of you that don't know, two wooden paddles about the size of a frying pan and a small blue ball. The object is to paddle the ball back and forth to try and keep it from hitting the ground. Easier said than done as the wind had kicked up and pushed the little ball around. After 10 minutes of chasing the blue sphere my legs had given up with the pleading for me to stop so they fought back the only way they knew how. Cramps. As I lumbered back to my toasting rack I handed Jerry the paddle to continue the pounding of this innocent blue ball.
Now, Jerry has always prided himself for being an athlete and quickly picked up the game. Janis would look up occasionally from her book to watch Reta and Jerry chase this blue orb. The rhythmic tic tic tic tic of the ball bouncing from one person to another was momentarily interrupted as a gust of wind pushed the ball a little closer to the water. I opened my eyes in time to see the scene unfold in front of me like a slow motion scene from The Matrix. There was Jerry, all 6 foot 5, with his eyes focused on the ball as it drifted slightly to his right, taking giant strides to intercept the ball before it hit the ground. Like a professional outfielder in baseball he had his paddle extended and eyes on the prize. He didn't have the luxury that the baseball player has with a warning track. Instead there was a little mound of sea grass that was strung out along the entire shoreline. Like a scuba diver out of water trying to still walk with his flippers on, Jerry's size 14 foot caught the ridge of the sea grass mound. As his body tried to react and move his legs faster to catch his falling torso he instinctively lowered himself as if trying to lower his center of gravity. Now quickly approaching the cold blue water, his gaze quickly turned to this clear blue liquid. With his arms out stretched and hands splayed open, like a giant sea plane with its pontoons lightly skimming the water for landing, he hit the water. Soon the law of physics played out and his hands broke the surface. At one last attempt to save himself and his pride he tucked his head and with a splash like a brown pelican hitting the water he disappeared. After what seemed an eternity but was really only a nanosecond Jerry popped his head out of the water. With a quick shake of the head reminiscent of a white haired boarder collie, he shouted out..."I'm OKAY". Reta being mortified by the entire episode was on him like a refugee on a bowl of white rice. Helping him to his feet and showering him with "I'm sorry" and "Are you all right". There stood Jerry like a giant salty dog on the beach. His red shirt now clinging to his frame and speckled with sand. His cargo shorts now dripping and hanging from his waist like it was on a clothes line. After the shock had subsided Jerry remembered that his pockets were still full of everyday life. Car keys, wallet, change and cell phone. He didn't have any reason to take them out when he started playing because he didn't expect to go for a swim. As these items were tossed my way to begin the process of drying out I had to contain myself as to not start laughing uncontrollably at the events that had just happened. Jerry insisted on continuing the game but one could see that he silently scolded himself for allowing himself to perform such an acrobatic demonstration of tumbling. Worst, I think, was that I was witness to it all and had the best seat in the house, front row and center. Later Janis and I would take assault on the blue ball as Jerry stood watch with his massive arms spread out like a Cormorant Duck trying to dry off and soak in the heating rays of the sun. You might be wondering how Jerry's possessions fared with their brief soaking in the salt water. Well Verizon, I don't think you can hear me now. 
Last I checked Verizon hasn't started coming out with underwater phones but when they do I have the perfect commercial for them. As for Jerry? He's fine. True athlete. Didn't get hurt, well maybe just his pride. After a few drinks in the evening it all became more fodder as the laughter increased with each scene dissected and retold. Thanks Jerry for a memorable image and yet another great story to add to our collection.
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