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Let’s Go for a Swim

Now about that swimming thing……As you already know, my dad was a big-time swimmer and therefore when I was young I spent a lot of time at the beach (Coney Island Beach in Brooklyn, NY, in particular). Well, I was NOT a fan of the beach. There was something quite menacing about all that water that would come violently crashing to shore as I held on for dear life to the rope provided for those who couldn’t swim. Inevitably I would get knocked down with all that water consuming my frail little body. There was absolutely nothing fun about getting hit continuously by unpredictable ocean waves. Sometimes they would be rather calm and then without warning a huge wave would overtake you with a relentless undertow designed to sweep you out into the sea never to be found again. It’s not like we lived in the Caribbean where the water is nice and warm.  As far as I\’m concerned, the Atlantic Ocean by Brooklyn, NY has the coldest water ever!!!! After getting out of the water my teeth would chatter for what seemed like hours no matter the air temperature. My father would continuously try to teach me to swim. He would hold me up and let me kick my feet and move my arms. The whole time I would be petrified. I’m sure I looked crazy stretching my neck up as far as I could trying not to let the water hit my face. He would always promise me that he wouldn’t let me go. And every time, against his word, he would let me go and I would panic, start to sink, go down under the water, fight my way up and start wailing and running trying desperately to get back to my mother as fast as I could. The funny thing is I would always go back in with him believing that this time he wouldn’t let me go as promised. But each time he disappointed me and let me go. This became a recurring theme  (I guess that says a lot about me – much too trusting and eager to forgive). ..I decided right then that I would be no swimmer. I would sit and watch everybody else swim.  They really seemed to enjoy the water. There are no expressions of panic on people faces. They look so relaxed as they glide through the water, moving so gracefully coming up to breathe and then going under with such rhythmic perfection as if it were second nature. I so much wanted to experience what that was like so I gave it a second thought and decided maybe I’d try the pool. After all the pool water is at least subdued and I could have a little more control. During summer camp we were required to take swimming. I at least got to the point where I could swim underwater for as long as I could hold my breath and I even came to like floating. Just don’t ask me to (1) open my eyes underwater or (2) do that breathing thing – I’M OUT!!

 

Since I have such a fear of the water, I decided that my children would take lessons early on and perhaps they would learn to love the water like their granddaddy. Additionally, their father is an avid swimmer as well. He swam competitively in high school and continues to enjoy competitive swimming – participating  in “Masters Meets”. It’s nothing for him to get up at 4am and hit the pool, enjoying a full workout before going to work. Given that history, I figured that perhaps at least one of my children would be a swimmer. The apartment complex we lived in had a swimming pool and everyday during the summer months the children would love for me to take them to the pool. I’d be on the side just watching. I told them that they had to take lessons because if something happened while they were in the water, I wouldn’t be able to save them. As it turned out, both Maya and Yamil became very good swimmers. However, poor little Nayda turned out just like her mother. The older two made it through each level of swimming with no problem. I would get them up early Saturday mornings and take them to their lessons. I can tell you that Nayda hated everything about swimming – the cold water, the non-privacy of the locker room, the showers …..I mean ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING! She did manage to get through the first session; however, when it came time to take her test for her completion certificate there was definitely a problem!! In order to pass the class you were required to jump off the diving board. Nayda jump off something that high. I don’t think so. This was my child that at two I could place on the kitchen counter and she would sit perfectly still petrified that she might fall. I could leave her there for hours and she wouldn’t move a muscle. If she wanted to get down she would simply raise her arms and say “up”. When I put her in gymnastics class she didn’t even want to climb up on the balance beam!

As the swimming test began, she went through all the requirements but then came time for the last required maneuver – the diving board jump. I could see her from the gallery, and I almost started crying myself. There was sheer panic in her eyes. I knew she wouldn’t cry but I also knew that she wasn’t going to jump. She managed to climb the ladder to the diving board and walk out almost to the end (that in itself was an accomplishment). The teacher was down in the water coaxing her to jump and promising to catch her. All the other students had taken their turn and she was the last one.  There she stood at the edge shaking like a leaf. The more encouragement she got, the worse it became.  I thought she might even fall off because she was shaking so badly. The teacher kept talking to her and trying to coax her to jump. After about 20 minutes the teacher realized that there was no way that she was going to jump. After all of that, she couldn’t pass the class. I wasn’t even angry with her because I knew exactly how she felt. So with that being said, let\’s go for a swim? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Nayda and I will pass. We are perfectly happy sitting on the sidelines, watching all the swimmers – us two, sipping on our drinks (coconut water for her and seltzer water for me) looking pretty in our bathing suits, sun glasses and large sun hats!!! Here’s to you Nayda!!

4 Responses

  1. I’m with you and Nayda. I am perfectly content wading in the water, enjoying the ocean and sipping on a drink

  2. I can not stand the water either, I’m with Nayda.
    Someone threw me in the pool at a pool party
    it was one of the worst days of my life.

  3. Definitely agree with u about Coney Island water and Jones Beach! Cold and crazy. Dont know if u remember this but one of the Carlos boys from the 3rd Walk (maybe 2d Walk), died out there in the water. Tony Carlos, the one that worked at Sal’s Butcher Store. Anyway, on that cheerful note, great story.

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