I almost didn?t go for a swim this morning. After all, I?d had a good and joyous run, it?s New Year?s Day, and my arms are a little sore from (finally) using the weight machines at the gym.
But what the heck. I was feeling perky, so off I went. As I was changing into my swimsuit, a woman walked into the dressing room. She was taking tiny steps, as if she were afraid she?d lose her balance if her feet were any farther apart. We said our hellos, exchanged smiles and I wished her a happy new year.
?Happy New Year to you, too!? she said.
As I was pulling open the door that leads to the showers that leads to the pool, she spoke again.
?We?re not usually here at the same time, but when we are, I love watching you swim. You?re so fast,? she said.
I will interject here and say I am not that fast. But when you walk the length of the pool and someone swims by, that person?s pace ? and this sounds obvious even to those of us who know little to nothing about physics ? will seem speedy.
I thanked her, told her how much I love swimming, and eased into the pool. I was taking my usual sweet time getting started ? spitting into my goggles, waving my arms around, splashing my shoulders with water ? and saw her. She waved and, before giving me a thumbs-up, asked if she could use one of the two kickboards I?d put at the end of my lane. Sure, I said, and started swimming.
When I finished, I used my kickboard for an up-and-back to finish up.
?How do you do that?? she asked.
?Using two kickboards really helps,? I said. ?Plus, sometimes it seems easier to just kick from your knees, but if you use your whole leg as much as possible, that?ll get you to the end faster.?
?I used to swim all the time,? she said. ?But once I got this? (I didn?t know what she meant yet) ?I just couldn?t.?
Turns out she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 25, not long after giving birth to her second child. Now, her children are grown ? one daughter was with her in the pool ? and she has grandchildren. I said what an inspiration she must be to them.
?I?m determined to keep going, no matter what,? she said. ?I told my doctor I?m not going to end up in a wheelchair like other people my age. I?m going to keep fighting.?
She took the kickboards from the end of the pool and they floated in front of her. She asked me how I hold them when I kick, and I got back in the water to show her. I told her to give a good push off the end, and she?d be fine.
She thanked me and told me again how much she liked watching me swim. I thanked her, put on my flipflops, took my towel from the hook and went to shower.
When I took off my watch, I checked to see how long my workout took today. It was faster than I?d swum in a long, long time. In retrospect, I guess I shouldn?t have been surprised. Sure, it?s nice to believe in yourself. But sometimes it?s even nicer to have someone ? a total stranger, even ? believing in you.
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