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A Happy Memory

As a small child about 4 years old, I was nervous about learning to swim. Other kids I knew had swimming pools, but I had no experience with playing in water. My mother took me to a swim school, but I flunked out. All the other kids laughed at me, then they ignored me; I was obviously not able to be part of this new experience. I felt shame and sadness as my mother walked me briskly away from the school. Neither she nor my father knew how to swim and they didn't think it was very important. Growing up among the rich in southern California, it WAS important. As the next few years went by, I felt ashamed and left out when it came to swimming. I assumed I was a sissie who couldn't learn to swim.

But I loved the beach and kept going there just to Wade in the water and watch other people swim. On summer weekends, I learned how to take the bus to the beach and usually had a pretty good time although I envied those who knew how to swim.

One day, when I was 8 years old, and mature enough to question my mother's assessment of me as a hopeless total sissie, I started wondering if maybe I might have it in me to try to learn to swim again. I had failed at it the first time at that swim school, but the teacher there had been very unsympathetic and had spent only a few minutes with me before giving up. Maybe, I thought, I should try again. But I didn't know what to do. And I couldn't afford swim lessons. My mother had refused to find another swim school and give me a second chance. She assumed I was a hopeless sissie kid when it came to swimming and many other things. I think it was part of my punishment for not being able to handle the school bully.

So on this day, on the way to the beach, riding on the bus, I decided I would give swimming another try somehow, though I hadn't a clue about how to do that. Sitting on the sand in my swim suit, I watched all the kids swimming enviously. Maybe if I watched them long enough, I would figure out how they did it. Finally, I got up and waded into the water so I could get a closer look at the swimmers.

One boy about 14 or 15 years old was teaching his younger siblings, a little boy and two little girls who closely resembled him, to swim. Their mother sat on a beach blanket watching them and waving to them now and then to encourage them. I thought it was wonderful that she trusted her son enough to teach his brother and sisters. He must be a good swimmers and very responsible. Also, he obviously enjoyed teaching them and took pride in his leadership position in this situation. And they looked at him with love and respect, following his instructions carefully.

Suddenly, I wondered if I could do more than envy them. I got up my little used nerve and approached the boy and asked him if I could watch him and try to learn how to swim myself. He said, "Sure!" He seemed happy to have me join his little class. Delighted, I joined in, following his instructions exactly.

In about an hour or so, I had learned how to swim! What a thrill that was. Not only the joy of swimming, my favorite athletic activity all my life and today, but also the joy of knowing I wasn't a hopeless little sissie unable to do what others did. I could swim! I stuck around for another hour as he taught us some of the finer points such as floating, the backstroke, underwater swimming and a basic dive. By the time I had to catch my bus to go home, I was a confident swimmer, taking pride in my new skill.

I've always felt bad that I didn't manage to stay in touch with that boy so I could thank him again and again for teaching me when a professional swim instructor and my own mother had given up on me. I doubt he is reading this. But if he is, all I can say is: THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUSLY INCLUDING ME IN YOUR LESSON THAT DAY!!!!! IT WAS ONE OF THE HAPPIEST EXPERIENCES OF MY MISRRABLE CHILDHOOD AND RATHER DIFFICULT LIFE AND SWIMMING HAS BROUGHT ME MUCH JOY AND PLEASURE OVER THE YEARS. THANK YOU HARDLY SEEMS ENOUGH. MAYBE I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT, OVER THE YEARS, YOU HAVE HAD A POSITIVE PLACE IN MY PRAYERS. MAY GOD REWARD YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS.

If there is any point to this story, perhaps it's that when we do a good deed for a stranger, we may never know how very much good we do. Never hesitate to help someone if you can. You may be someone who stands between that person and total misery. You may be what makes all the difference in his or her life. When we help people, we may never know how much help it was.
assemblingaknob · 26-30, F
I always love reading your posts about your life experiences. Thank you for sharing. This was warm and lovely.
greenmountaingal · 70-79, F
@assemblingaknob Thank you for reading my posts. I am so glad you've enjoyed them.
This is the [big]BEST [/big]story I've ever read here !

Wow...thanks for posting.


See!.... thanks why kids are the best people...theu don't judge , they accept.

I love this story so much !
💙💚💛🧡🧡
greenmountaingal · 70-79, F
@OogieBoogie Thank you for reading it and for your very kind comments.
@greenmountaingal hey ...i remember learning to swim ....properly: my sister taught me .

We lived just up fron the beach, and i could swim underwater, but i couldn't swim the proper strokes above water.
She took the time out fron being with her friends to teach me at the pool one day... I've never forgotten that moment....being able to cut thru the water ...feelingthe power of riding it.

And because of that one memory, I've taught other kids how to ice skate , roller skate , and how to swim as well... beciase I still, like you, remember the sheer AMAZING THRILL! of being able to finally DO IT!

I 've seen the smile on their faces!

It always gives me goose bumps.


And I just wanted to tell you.... he doesn't need to see this .... he got his reward when you learnt to swim .

He'll never forget that random kid who asked HIM , to teach them how to swim .

It's a HUGE reward in itself.

💜
I learned to swim from my father

but flunked out of regular school cause nobody really cared

 
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