MORE SHORT CLIPS FROM OUR TIME IN FIJI “OR” MOM GETS THE LICE

At our first resort, Ron and I had occasion to take scuba lessons in the pool. It was quite fun, but I felt a little embarrassed to be dressed like a “spaceman” in full scuba garb, standing on the deck of the pool, for people to stare at. Ron had no problem with it, she looked “cute” whereas I looked like a dork.

They gave us a couple of short lessons on the pool deck and then we jumped in and sank to the bottom. We just kinda swam around about 4 feet under the surface of the pool and learned breathing techniques. It was quite fun. Like everything else in the water, Ron was a natural and took to scuba diving easily. Anyway that was not the story, only a sidebar.

The real story happened on a day that Deysi and I decided to go snorkelling on a reef just off the beach near our hotel. We bought snorkels and got flippers and weights from the hotel. In the shallows near the beach I practised “not breathing” and Deysi practised “not speaking” while underwater and then breathing again once the snorkel broke surface, but then remaining underwater and diving back down.

We seemed to be doing well so we proceeded out onto the reef. In about 4 feet of water we started swimming along the edge of the reef and looking for fish. I did not have great expectations, but to our surprise we encountered thousands of fish, on solo flights, some in squadrons, pairs, groups and each one flitting back and forth before our eyes. The colors were a kaleidoscope with blues, yellows, whites predominant and pinks, reds and greens mixed in.

It looked like a Jaques Cousteau documentary. In fact it was hard to believe. We spent about one hour floating around, making dives and frolicking with the fish. At one point I swam thru an area of shimmering silver flecks of sunlight and felt a slight tingle on my skin. I quickly moved away. Deysi did not notice the effects of this area of pinpoints of light and continued swimming.

Later that day she is in major pain, her skin is turning an angry red, it hurts, it itches and she has a fever. She is starting to suffer greatly. Usually very tough, you know it’s serious when Deysi complains of sickness. This state continues all afternoon, she cannot get comfortable, cannot sit down, lie down or stand up without pain. Alarmed, we contact the hotel and after a period of time a local doctor appears to examine her.

His diagnosis “SEA LICE”! I had never heard of it. It is a very dangerous little beast and can cause serious infection in people, if left untreated. Apparently they were able to attach onto Deysi due to the length of time she lingered in their presence and the fact that her bathing suit had so many places for them to cling to and hide. Because I felt the tingling on my skin and moved away rapidly, they were not able to attach to me. The Doc prescribed an ointment that thankfully killed the little buggars, and by morning it had Deysi ready to rock and roll, once again. Now, however, snorkelling was off the list of things to do.

As always it somehow became my fault that she got lice, and I needed to do some penance because of this. She also determined that the reason I didn’t get bitten was that even lice wouldn’t eat “pig skin”.