More About The Ocean and Various Bits Of Homework

Food wasn't settling with me earlier and I'm not quite ready (and/or way past ready) for bed.

I'm having all the feels about the ocean and all the thoughts swirling around in my head.  The ocean, the edge of the world.  We drove through Olympia to get there.  The land south, but mostly west, of Olympia is so beautiful.  I remember my first week at Evergreen, first week away from my parents.  I didn't really know my roommates, maybe it was the first weekend?  Maybe it was the weekend before classes started?  I was feeling really overwhelmed and someone had mentioned that the ocean was only about an hour away.

I've always turned to driving when I need to get some space to think.  I used to intentionally drive around trying to get myself "lost", then come around to something that looked familiar and head home.  I don't get that sort if luxury with time any more.  I followed all the signs out to Ocean Shores.  When I got there, that first week of college, I saw horses, and thought that'd be fun, so I went for a ride on the beach.  The horse dragged it's feet going away from the temporary stall, as horses are wont to do.  It was a half hour ride.  It was just me, the horse, and the guy on his horse guiding.  We did a little trotting, a little cantering.  When we turned back, the horse was like, hell yeah, heading home and set off fast down the beach.  I didn't even care. I may have lost a stirrup at one point, but I think I got it back.

After that, we discovered Moclips up the beach a ways, the following year.  There were midnight trips to the beach just because we could, and it's amazing to be standing on the beach late at night.  I can't remember the last time I wore shoes on the ocean beaches.  Possibly only that first trip.  Even on trips in the middle of winter, no shoes.  The water is so cold that the feet numb up pretty quick, and then it doesn't matter.  I couldn't do that on the Salish Sea beaches, most of them -- barnacles, rocks, human detritus... I suppose eventually I might meet a piece of razor clam shell or broken glass out on the Pacific, or perhaps we'll get to a part of the beach that isn't sandy, and then I'll wear shoes... I guess.

Wading out into the water, salt water... Poseidon starts out at my ankles, splashes up my calves, edging ever up my legs.  He's cheeky, that one.  But only ever bodies of salt water that connect to the ocean.  I don't think I've ever met up with him in ponds and lakes.  Perhaps I've just never met a big enough lake...

Poseidon turned up for my warding and safety Shield exercise.  As did Athena.  There were, of course, some of the other usual suspects, but... I guess those two surprised me, and sort of didn't on retrospection.  Maybe it was in class, someone noted, 'pay attention to who shows up, those may be good candidates for building out other area of that relationship.'  Indeed... Athena has immediate resonance for many reasons, and circled through in multiple ways over time.  Poseidon, he's been a fairly playful tease, but... Dunno.  Especially given the relationship between him and Athena and it would seem women generally -- like a number of the other Olympians, not especially respectful of us, but perhaps there is something that requires further exploration nonetheless. We shall see.

Have always sort of thought of practices for these two having been sort of more official state type business than solitary, more personal practices.  Have not looked up Poseidon yet, but Athena (so far) seems largely spoken of in terms of the past.  Just means I have not looked far enough yet.

So I have started the shield.  I'm weaving it together night over night.  I am already glad of it, I have been too open to the world and it has been draining.

So many more thoughts swirling in my head.  So tired.  And as M1 says, "tomorrow morning -- it's A  Thing."  And a thing coming quickly at that.  And another full crazy week, with so much to do. Will try to take note here of what more comes of these thoughts.  But for now, I go feed stinky old lady cat and do my day end stuff.  And maybe I'll check my calendar and see if I could get away with sleeping in just a bit in the morning...