A terrifying read :) Loved it. I felt you all the way through. Amazing that you had a love of all things water after this rough start. I love your desperate act of protest "I'm a girl!" Sweet and inspiring story!
This is a great story Larry! And, as usual, you invite us to join your world through a wonderful splash. You make it so easy for a reader to glide through your writing. As if we’re following a larger-than-life Fish God all the way to end of your piece.
Not only were you incredibly brave in twice facing your fear, but you showed brilliant ingenuity. “How can I get out of this? I know, I’ll convince them I’m not who they think I am!”
Boy/girl, no matter, you made it. You’re a Tadpole! Don’t ever forget it :)
I laughed, groaned, and had a little PTSD as I read your entertaining tale. The Tadpole Class ruined me for life (or at least ruined my chances of ever becoming a real swimmer). My final moment came (after having successfully crossed the shallow end of the pool and like you having assumed I had passed the big test) when I was told I had to go off the diving board.
Finally, after having marshaled the courage to do so, I jumped in and as I went under water could see that my male teacher -- instead of being ready with the pole for me to grab onto -- was having a very enamored conversation with the female instructor. After glugging to the surface three or four times with no pole to grab onto I finally ran out of breath and was sinking to the bottom of the pool when my brother yelled at the teacher and frantically pointed to my body that was now literally circling the drain.
The teacher dove in after me, pulled me up, and hoisted me up on the edge of the pool as I tried my best not to cough up a lung. You'll be all right he laughed as he patted me extra hard on my back (I imagined to see if any more water came out). And then he was off to pursue his romantic interest. My brother was upset and concerned but swore me to secrecy. If Mom and Dad find out, he said, they'll never let us come back here. While that was fine with me, I kept quiet about the whole affair not knowing that this was to be the first of several life-threatening moments in my life that each involved water.
Amazing storytelling, Larry. I remember feeling so terrible for you at the time. I can remember being in some kind of kindergarten pool class while you and Jeff were in your “big boy” class. It was one of the rare times of my life I actually thought to myself, “I’m so glad I’m not a boy.”
You were just a wee lad. What insane, authoritarian guidelines to set for a 5 year old child. This was clearly a male, militant mindset that drummed up this acrophobia-inducing test.
I love all the memories you've sparked for others in the comments. Your story is so well told. I was hooked all the way. It's these fantastic details that stand out for me. "the caustic chlorine smell that grew in intensity moments before my head dipped below the surface." The Spiderman towel. the perfect selected phrases, "fall from grace" -
Larry, your heart(and body)felt story just catapulted me back to the time when I was tasked to dive and retrieve a ring from deep water, as part of getting my first swimming badge in Germany as a 6-year old. Burned viscerally into my memory. And then the jumps off the diving board 1-2 years later (not when I was 5!).
I did NOT grow up to love swimming and diving like you…
Hi Larry,
A terrifying read :) Loved it. I felt you all the way through. Amazing that you had a love of all things water after this rough start. I love your desperate act of protest "I'm a girl!" Sweet and inspiring story!
This is fabulous! I’m so proud of that little one. As an avid swimmer, you had me five seconds in.
You are such a gifted writer. Wow. Feels like I need to towel off after reading this. I’m right there in the water as well.
Bless your mom for being there and so supportive. With everything you’ve written about her, she sounds like a wonderful person.
This is a great story Larry! And, as usual, you invite us to join your world through a wonderful splash. You make it so easy for a reader to glide through your writing. As if we’re following a larger-than-life Fish God all the way to end of your piece.
Not only were you incredibly brave in twice facing your fear, but you showed brilliant ingenuity. “How can I get out of this? I know, I’ll convince them I’m not who they think I am!”
Boy/girl, no matter, you made it. You’re a Tadpole! Don’t ever forget it :)
I laughed, groaned, and had a little PTSD as I read your entertaining tale. The Tadpole Class ruined me for life (or at least ruined my chances of ever becoming a real swimmer). My final moment came (after having successfully crossed the shallow end of the pool and like you having assumed I had passed the big test) when I was told I had to go off the diving board.
Finally, after having marshaled the courage to do so, I jumped in and as I went under water could see that my male teacher -- instead of being ready with the pole for me to grab onto -- was having a very enamored conversation with the female instructor. After glugging to the surface three or four times with no pole to grab onto I finally ran out of breath and was sinking to the bottom of the pool when my brother yelled at the teacher and frantically pointed to my body that was now literally circling the drain.
The teacher dove in after me, pulled me up, and hoisted me up on the edge of the pool as I tried my best not to cough up a lung. You'll be all right he laughed as he patted me extra hard on my back (I imagined to see if any more water came out). And then he was off to pursue his romantic interest. My brother was upset and concerned but swore me to secrecy. If Mom and Dad find out, he said, they'll never let us come back here. While that was fine with me, I kept quiet about the whole affair not knowing that this was to be the first of several life-threatening moments in my life that each involved water.
Amazing storytelling, Larry. I remember feeling so terrible for you at the time. I can remember being in some kind of kindergarten pool class while you and Jeff were in your “big boy” class. It was one of the rare times of my life I actually thought to myself, “I’m so glad I’m not a boy.”
Thank you, Flori.
Standing on the top of that high-dive ... I don't think I've ever been more terrified.
You were just a wee lad. What insane, authoritarian guidelines to set for a 5 year old child. This was clearly a male, militant mindset that drummed up this acrophobia-inducing test.
Well, we were *raised* in a male militant environment, so at least the swim school was consistent…
I love all the memories you've sparked for others in the comments. Your story is so well told. I was hooked all the way. It's these fantastic details that stand out for me. "the caustic chlorine smell that grew in intensity moments before my head dipped below the surface." The Spiderman towel. the perfect selected phrases, "fall from grace" -
Larry, your heart(and body)felt story just catapulted me back to the time when I was tasked to dive and retrieve a ring from deep water, as part of getting my first swimming badge in Germany as a 6-year old. Burned viscerally into my memory. And then the jumps off the diving board 1-2 years later (not when I was 5!).
I did NOT grow up to love swimming and diving like you…
I'm impressed, Brigitte! Diving deep like that at age 6 is WAY beyond what I could've done back then. Maybe watery adventures is in your DNA!
Um no, they are not 😅 I rather live through you when it comes to water adventure stories!