NYAD

I watched the Netflix release, NYAD, about the endurance swimmer Diana Nyad’s attempt(s) to swim from Cuba to Key West. I found the main character to be annoying, narcissistic, and one-dimensional. Like most exceptional professional athletes. If this were a man we’d think nothing of it—

She was driven by internal, psychic forces to do this incredible feat not for any monetary reason, but only to prove to herself that she could.

Of course, she had to bring others into her over-achievement orbit and hold them there in order to accomplish her goal. There is a certain tension in the film of how she viewed relationships. Yet, she was fully human; we saw her warts and all. I think what made me keep watching was that she and I (in the film) are close to the same age—and I, too, feel a sense of wanting to get things done, or at least attempt to.

My Rhine River Ride (search here at blog for posts) portrayed this: Despite rain the first day, I had to do 100 km to Koblenz and 100 the next day to Koln to stay on track. When I got to Berlin, Mia my friend, did not share my sense of itinerary. As opposed to all those American stereotypes of who/what a German is, she did not color within the lines; she was someone who broke crayons and mixed up colors. Immediately this was clear from as soon as we met at the train station and we danced together in the platz out front, just happy to see each other after 4 years and a pandemic. Mia lives in the moment.

I can be a stickler for sticking to a plan. Until, of course, there is no plan.

Part of traveling is being able to pivot and go with the flow, the interruption, the delay, the getting lost, etc. You name it, because it is all out there. Many times in Turkey my husband and I were waylaid by strangers seeking to have conversations with us. We’d stop for coffee or tea (a hot apple drink) and end up talking for an hour to someone we just met. It’s one of the reasons why we love Turkey and left with such great memories of the country.

So back to NYAD. She never let anything stop her—particularly her age. Sixty-five. I just turned 65 and am wondering about limitations. Will I suddenly turn into someone who goes to bed at 7 pm and asks for the senior discount and lives for the grandchildren. Yes. But, I’m also the person who is looking for the next great adventure and, hopefully, not over planning.

Perhaps, the Kungsleden in the Arctic Circle of Sweden.

The point of the film is to NEVER give up.