Where do I apply for olympic try-outs?
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Never too old
I have always loved the water and considered myself a really good swimmer. There was just one thing lacking - the crawl (freestyle). When I learned to swim in Germany, that stroke was not taught and over the years I've tried to teach myself. I am fortunate to report that I didn't drown trying. Never could get the breathing down. So when I saw a sign at my pool that said: "Do you want to perfect a stroke or refresh your skills?", I jumped at the opportunity. The very young man teaching the class is a saint. His face remained kind and interested when I approached him the first day of class. You see, he had seen me in the arthritis pool, but his demeanor betrayed no skepticism. First, I wanted to show him my two perfect strokes - the back stroke and the breast stroke. I needed to establish right away that he was not dealing with a novice. "Very nice!" he said and proceeded to gently point out some major errors. Heartbroken, I'm 65, you know, I proceeded to relearn those strokes until the saint was satisfied. Then came the BIG day. "Ready to learn the crawl?" the saint asked yesterday. With my heart beating wildly, I whispered, "Not sure." But the acoustics being what they are in a big pool, he understood "Yes, of course I am!!" So, long story short, I learned that elusive stroke yesterday, with breathing! So on Thursday, I'll dazzle the young swimming saint with absolute perfection. I can see it now. The crowd roaring, "There she goes! She has beaten her own time!"
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6 comments:
Good for you Zitrone! I learned how to knit last year and this year i learned how to bake my own bread, and make my own ice cream, and i want to take a crochet class and learn how to make my own wine too. We are never too old to do the things we have always wanted to do. I got my nose pierced 2 years ago at the ripe old age of 52! I love it...
This made me laugh! What are the chances that you'd have a saint working at your swimming pool?! Do you suppose he could teach me, the one who still gets butterflies in her tummy from the smell of chlorine, how to swim and not sink?
I love how this kind person has empowered you!
Wow! This guy sounds like a great teacher! I have always been too embarrassed to admit that at 38, I still can't do the crawl. Sometimes I try and act cool and move my arms really fast to try and "fake" crawl, hoping that people will only watch me long enough to think I really am doing it. Maybe there's hope for me yet...
You go girl! I took swimming lessons the summer I was 9, but didn't really learn much. I get by and have fun, but am not a strong swimmer. Good that you found a young saint at your local pool.
I like the way you write. Down to earth and with humor and spirit.
I love that you are going after all these things with such enthusiasm. Im an OK swimmer having lived across the street form a pool for many years of my childhood...I loved swimming. As an adult, I can still swim, but I have to say that the pool doesnt really hold that attraction for me anymore....
This was a fun post to read - and I smiled all the way through it. I must admit I'm a little like Steffi and I try to fake it. But I don't even do a good job at that because as I'm flailing my arms back and forth, I am slowly sinking to the bottom of the pool. Oh well. I can doggy paddle like nobody's business. No one can take that from me!
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