Learning to Swim

learninghowtoswiminadeeppoolcanbealittlebitscaryatfirstbutitisaveryimportantskilltohavewegototheindoorcommunitypooleverysaturdaymorningforourlessonsthewatersmellsstronglyofcleanchemicalsandtheroomechoeswiththeloudsoundsofkidssplashingandblowingbubblesatfirstihadtowearbrightorangefloatiesonmyarmstokeepmefromsinkingtothebottomtheteacherisaniceladywhostandsintheshallowendandshowsushowtokickourlegsstraightandstrongmakingabigwhitesplashbehinduswepracticeholdingourbreathandputtingourentirefacesunderthewatercountingtofivebeforewepopbackuptogrababreathoffreshaironceigotbraveenoughtheteachertookoffmyorangefloatiesandtoldmetopaddlemyarmslikeadogiwasnervousbutikickedmyfeetandmovedmyhandsincirclesandsuddenlyiwasmovingacrossthewaterallbymyselfitfeltlikeiwasflyingweightlessandfreethenextstepwaslearninghowtofloatperfectlystillonmybacklookingupatthehighceilingandlettingthewaterholdmybodyuplikeasoftwaterybedweplayfungamesattheendofeverylessondivingdowntothebottomoftheshallowendtopickupheavyplasticringsandthrowingsmallballsacrossthepoolthemoreipracticethestrongermyarmsandlegsfeelnowiamnotafraidofthedeependanymoreicanjumpoffthesideofthepoolwithahugesplashandswimallthewayacrosstotheothersidewithoutstoppingtorestitisgreatexerciseandmakesmeveryhungrysowealwaysstoptobuyabigdoublescoopicecreamconeonthewayhomeswimmingissomethingiwillbeabletodofortherestofmylifewhetheriamatalocalpoolorjumpingoverwavesatthesunnybeachwritingaboutithelpsmetypefasterandrememberhowproudifelttheveryfirsttimeiswamwithoutanyhelpatall