Learning to love swimming in Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan at dawn. Photo by Teresa Albano

The ferocity of the waves can not be captured in a single photo of a rising sun, although my swim buddy, Aliza, tries. The waves’ height are, according to Lake Michigan Buoy #45174, 4.3 ft., coming every 6 secs. They hit the shallow sandy bottom and break with energy that easily knocks you down.

It’s impossible to confront high-breaking waves by standing upright, as if you were a courageous…