Today my son, Daniel went swimming off the coast near our
flat in Malta. I watched frankly
worried from the shore. I dislike big
waves when swimming. Instead of feeling
you are deciding your direction and pace in the water a greater force dictates,
unseen with considerable power. I
wonder is it the lack of control or lack of power over this medium that
disturbs. My son has no such qualms and
will do his swim sun, rain or hail.
After a day working indoors he is longing for the freedom of the waves
and sea. For many, the daily swim
almost acts as a form of necessary therapy for body, spirit and mind. There may be even some anecdotal evidence
for this.
It is said, “Navy SEALS even say that if they have a scrape
or cut, they know that being in the sea water will clean them up and speed up
the healing process.”
Ancient Egyptians apparently, used salt water for stomach
ulcers and external skin injuries. Of
course there is also Hippocrates from 460 BC – c. 370 BC who was a strong
believer in salt water’s usefulness…
“Hippocrates, also known as Father of Medicine, concocted
multiple cures using saltwater to heal cuts, scrapes, and even more serious
skin injuries. He also used saltwater for internal problems, such as ulcers of
the mouth or stomach. Hippocrates became interested in exploring the healing
powers of saline after he observed how quickly fishermen’s hands and other
minor skin injuries healed after exposure to seawater.”
“The Romans treated stomach ulcers and digestive problems
with the solution by preparing drinks for their patients. They also made
ointments to treat skin injuries, and had patients bathe in the solution to
clear up skin diseases and combat itching and inflammation...effectively
recommending saltwater as a primary medicinal for skin care and common skin
problems.”
I don’t know if is true but I remember being told Alexander
the Great urged his wounded solders to bath in the sea and dry in the sun to
heal wounds. Given these days were all
long before antibiotics the sea was probably a reasonable option if you had an
open wound, ripe for infection.
World War aircraft crash victims who went down in the sea
strangely healed better than burn victims on land. It is not just humans who have benefited from the magic of water
treatments. Hydrotherapy is used in
veterinary clinics up and down the country where it allows animals, especially
post operative, to strengthen muscles when weight bearing is too much.
Perhaps there is something deep in our psychic about being
from the sea originally? After all, our
ancestors crept ashore millions of years ago before evolving into land
animals. Who knows, but I do love water
enough to feel genuinely horrified when adults announce they cannot swim. It feels so unfair that they have missed out
on this delightful therapeutic experience.
My son is talking to a Greek man on the rocks with his two
small daughters playing at his side.
All my sons speak Greek with a distinctive Rhodes island twang, as they
were brought up there, and it is a very strong dialect indeed. The man seems overjoyed to find a native
Greek speaker on a Maltese shore so far from home and they rattle away their own language.
He tells Daniel all about his life. Working in a small family owned business for
decades. Of how he met and married a
tourist. Then he spoke of the dreadful economic situation in Greece at present
that saw him lose his business and turn his home into a liability rather than
an asset. Of his separation from his
wife. Then he holds up his hands asking,
“What did I do wrong?
I couldn't have worked any harder. I never cheated anyone. I love my family more than my life!”
He stops and stares at the sea shaking his head at the
mystery of it all. Then he continues,
“It's wreaking even village life in Greece, everyone is having to leave
to work abroad, to earn money. Only the
old are left, alone. It is all
changing.”
He describes in fast Greek, how he works in Germany and
Malta, wherever a job comes up.
Desperate to make progress but aware that he is barely afloat
financially these days. He says.
“ I had my own
business in Greece and was good at it.
I made something good of my life.
I did, I really did.”
Then he turns his palms heavenward and explains,
“Now, I try and get hotel jobs, any jobs. Just any work to support my family. I’m not giving up, but I do want to
understand what happened.”
They talk for an hour of politics, world affairs, Greek
village life (which they both adore) football and even Greek history and
language. His two small daughters, half
German and half Greek, speak perfect Greek and tell Daniel stories they know by
heart. The tales of heroes and villains
and great deeds from Greek mythology, as their father smiles proudly.
Then as they part Kostas, hugs Daniel to his chest as you
would a dear brother and wishes both of us well. There is a sweetness about Greeks that takes the breath away when
they open their heart to you. Even in
their pain, you somehow gain. Like sea water they aid healing.
