“Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” —W. H. Auden.

A friend and her family were going on vacation but not near the water. This was in hot July 2016 with a nine year old son. I could not imagine my friend not letting her son swim in the beautiful Texas Gulf waters. I’ve been swimming in it for years with much enjoyment.

Then came the avalanche of reasons my friend like an ice cube tray dropped in my lap why her and her family would not be going near the Texas Gulf waters. One account was of a man who lost a limb another lost their life all by swimming in Gulf coastal waters either in Florida or Texas as I listened to the news from my friend. 

Yet I could not locate one report of bacteria ridden Gulf waters in Texas. Nor did I find any printed newspaper stories of illness or death from swimming in the Texas Gulf.

The time came when my family prepared for our yearly vacation to beautiful Mustang Island, Texas near Corpus Christi. On the drive there I vowed to ask the lobby personnel at the resort we would be staying at if it was safe to swim in the Gulf.

Upon inquiring at check-in they assured me the water was OK. Then they added: But just to be on the safe side — do not have any open wounds or weak immune system. The resort attendant convinced me there had been no reports of anyone becoming ill or worse yet this summer from swimming in the Texas Gulf. I felt fairly assured but still had fearful pictures in my mind from my friend’s description of infected people from Gulf water bathing.

Mind you, I have been swimming in the Gulf since arriving in Texas in late 1979. And now standing in the Gulf water off Mustang Island beach with tears in my eyes and fear in my heart afraid to enjoy a swim. Even though, just moments ago as I walked down the beach toward the water I began telling the Gulf water how I loved and so appreciated its warmth and existence. I knew it would not harm me. Besides once I got in the water, my intuition and the water itself would tell me if it was OK to swim in.

Now, it was decision time. I must decide to let fear conquer me or let my faith in everything I have come to trust guide me. Further, I recalled again how I have been swimming since a young child and how many wonderful swims I have had in the Texas Gulf waters. Spontaneously, I began to swim and fear melted in the sun’s embrace with the water and I in celebration of the sheer pleasure of life’s natural treasured elements.