So tonight was my first swimming lesson, getting the hang of the dolphin-kick and really getting a feel for my "mersona," which I'm SO PUMPED ABOUT.

... Although really it wasn't a formal lesson, it was my friend S who I've known since 8th grade taking me to the public pool where she's been working as head lifeguard for the last six and a half years and teaching me herself for an hour and a half.

I've got a bit of an anxiety trigger when it comes to submerging my face in water-- long story short, I fell off a wharf when I was a little kid and couldn't swim and I nearly drowned, so now whenever I'm up over my nose in water I immediately freak out. Tonight was... Definitely a challenge on that front, though with S's help I managed to do it a couple of times and handled it really well! I suppose it helped that I'd bought a pair of goggles to wear while I was swimming, so I could open my eyes underwater and remind myself where I am, and that I had a lifeguard/friend right next to me and I was safe.

The dolphin-kick itself was awkward at first, but as soon as I got a feel for the motion it started to come to me really easily! The tough part though was getting my hips/butt to move -up-, because my lower back is pretty stiff from a pinched nerve I got back in highschool, but that'll come with time. Even with the stiff back I started to get the hang of it by the time I was ready to leave!

It was ten times easier to do with flippers, too, so now I'm REALLY excited for when I get my mermaid tail-- It's going to come with a Finis Rapid monofin installed in the fluke, which is a LOT bigger than the flippers I was using at the pool (which were a size too small for me anyway...) so I'm going to really fly when I get it in the water!

S and I are going to be making it a regular thing every Sunday so she can teach me more, and she's REALLY excited about the mermaid thing and can't wait to see my tail! As I was doing laps in the pool she kept telling me how I was improving and "You'll be a mermaid in no time!" It was so encouraging. ;w;

The whole process so far has me really fleshing out my mersona, Starfrit, and figuring out what sort of equipment/accessories she'd have while swimming. I know for a fact that I'll need goggles while swimming, and most swimming goggles aren't very, er, mermaid-y?? But I'm thinking I could find some simple goggles and make a steampunk-looking pair out of it, that would be safe enough for the water. Starfrit is mostly dark blue and gold, but I think some brassy-colored accessories would work really well on her! Then I could find a nice belt and a top...

Aaaaaaahahahaha I'm so excited. <3<3<3 Just another couple of weeks before I get my tax return, and then I can pay off on my tail, and then... AAAHHHHH. I'm seriously giddy just thinking about it!

... Also sleepy. Why the fuck am I still up at 3AM?!

I think all the chlorine I accidentally snorted at the pool is getting to me... Note to self, buy nose plugs before my next lesson.