blogger profile

Alison Skirtboston

Skirt! Boston editor

Skirt! is evidence that the universe is paying attention: I spent the last six years at mach speed, whether finishing college (Emerson) while writing full time for Boston Globe West (2001-2004) or editing the Boston Parents’ Paper during the day while holding down the steady gig writing for Globe ...

READ MORE

Gone for a Swim

Alison, editor

It’s gorgeous outside, I know. But it’s hard to get in the mood for summer activities when you’re sitting in a windowless, heavily air conditioned cube all day (must have been thoroughly researched for optimal productivity!).

Earlier this week I broke out on a HOT afternoon and took 2 of my kids (plus a boyfriend) to one of my favorite swimming holes, Hopkinton State Park. I used to go there after hours when I was a teenager, and spent many listless days drifting around the lake in the family canoe. It was amazing – the memories sustain me even now, during my cube-dwelling existence.

Both of my sisters were lifeguards and amazing swimmers while I wasn’t, which could have loomed large in my psyche (like being the only one of seven siblings who couldn’t play a musical instrument!), but I didn’t let it. That has always been a goal for me with my kids – learn to swim well enough to save your own life, but most importantly realize –and use– the power water has to wash away stress.

At the state park, the water is always cool and deliciously dark, owing to the leaf litter on the bottom (it’s not a place where you want to “touch bottom” due to the foot of mucky accumulation down there). Night swimming off the dam is ... exactly what R.E.M. sang about.

I hate to think how long it had been since I went swimming. Months, at least. I was thrilled that I could still do a couple laps of the buoys (old-lady style sidestroke, backstroke and some crawl). But mostly it was the way the water enveloped me completely.

In winter my skin craves warm immersion in the Caribbean, but in summer I want to float on my back where I can see the pine trees and the sky...

...therapy is expensive. I need to swim more often...