Re: Stressful event ?

I was late 20s at the time, with a boyfriend a few years older. We went to the deserted part of a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, right off the coast of North Florida, a place we went often to sun and swim. It was nearing dusk; we decided to take one last dip - and that's what it nearly was. My crazy ex-beau was probably the most fearless man I've ever known, fun but quite reckless. He challenged me to swim out as far as we could, have a race past the deep part to the sandbar and beyond. I'd grown up swimming the wild north Atlantic Ocean and thought the Gulf mild in comparison (with its tiny waves and warm temps) and so, naturally, took the dare. We swam out to where it was beyond deep, Lord knows how far over my head, and it was a blast. But when we stopped and I looked back to the shore so very far away, I said to him, "Are we out of our f*cking minds?! I'm heading back." But I couldn't swim against a tide that was suddenly forcing us out; nor could my strapping fella, who was a very strong swimmer. We were caught in a rip current. It was getting darker and there wasn't a soul in sight on the beach; no help to be had. I tried swimming directly in for what seemed a very long time, could not make any headway and was beginning to feel panic. My fella stayed right behind me, pushing on my behind (even on the verge of drowning, he could not resist slapping my ass!) and yelling, "Swim, Baby!!" I finally said I couldn't, had to stop, was growing exhausted. I turned over onto my back, and thought to myself, "I'm not going out in a flailing panic here." I began to gently move my ams, like making snow angels. And suddenly I was floating north, right out of the rip current, boyfriend swimming along with me. It was then quite easy to swim back to shore. When we were about knee-deep in the surf, I just fell to my knees and sat there for the longest time, realizing: forces of nature are powerful beyond my understanding and coping; I can only do my best to be strong, resourceful, accepting. And a smidge of trusing the gut might mean survival.