The Pool
I would have never found myself surrounded by the decadence and luxury I found in Calgary, staying at the Fairmount downtown, if it weren't for work. The grandeur of the architecture in the lobby had my eyes investigating, corner to crevice and my brain, boggled over the holiday displays, the flourishes and the intricacies of the simplest things. Most notable, the ceilings design. Overstimulation, the word rolling off the tip of my tongue. I knew what I wanted though... I knew what I expected.
As soon as my bags hit the floor of my room I took the elevator down to the basement to get a glimpse at the pool. The brass plaque on the wall describing the 1930's design did no justice to the greek palace of a watering hole laid out in front of me. I stood, stunned.
As this part of the hotel was labeled 'The Spa' my initial urge to jump in and splash around, like the fool I am, was hindered. Especially under the watchful and affluent eyes of the beautiful folks taking selfies in the adjacent and equally elaborate hot tub. I watched, astonished, at the artful ways in which they captured their own beauty but also somehow highlighted the elegance of the room and thus their own situation. Inspired, I too obliged.
The temperature test. I dropped my toes below the surface, winced, pulling them out just as quickly. 'You gotta get in to get out' echoed the lyrics to a famous Genesis song in my head. I got into the water, the surface high on my midriff. Thats when I realized how shallow the pool was. I usually like deeper pools, I like to fully submerge myself to look up at the glass like surface and it's skewed view of reality. But this pool, with all it's elaborate beauty had me speechless. I dropped down past my chin, water trickling into my mouth, my eyes scanning the surface searching, but for what, I still can't say.
That was when, like narcissus, I found my own eyes looking back at me. Ignoring the side smirk attached to those eyes I dove down deep - as deep as I could go - my fingers running across the bottom tile - my back arched - and my eyes... my eyes burning!
I surfaced. 'I much prefer the air up here' a voice echoed in the back of my head. Was that me or was it that smirking reflection? I'm the type to love stewing in the depths. 'I hate it when people ask too many questions' it continued. But... Isn't life one giant search for answers to the questionless... Isn't that our equal flaw? The great puzzle? I was quite literally beside myself.
However, I instead let the room absorb me in all it's glory. A cunning smile crept on my very own face, my limbs ever so lightly against the waters surface, feeling it's tension, I floated.
