...of re-learning to swim, tonight I felt like I finally "got it!"  Remember that great-white-shark-in-the-swimming-pool fear thing?  That was me!  My mother took me to see stoopid Jaws at the drive-in when I was 6 years old.  In our Vega hatch-back, we put the back seats down and I had the whole back area to myself...and then, in the front seat, SHE FELL ASLEEP!  I learned later that many ADULTS were traumatized by that movie and had phobia of the water, and as a parent now I can not even imagine taking MY 6 year old daughter to a movie like that.  What was she thinking?!!!  I don't think I ever forgave her for that one.  Then in her infinitely cruelty she subjected me to swim lessons until I got to the fifth grade.

So five years ago yesterday, in fact, I re-entered the swimming pool with the intention of training for and completing my first triathlon that August.  I could hardly swim 7 lengths that day...175 yards.  And from that day until one evening lap swim less than two years ago I would be nearly consumed with panic every 35 yards, or so, when the bottom of the pool would start to move further away.  Oh, and don't even get me started on open water!

Despite my fear, however, I persisted in trying to learn to swim in an efficient and, hopefully someday, slightly faster manner.  I read books, articles, eforums.  I attended clinics and practiced with different masters' swim teams.

Tonight, though, after being coached by the same person for one hour a week since November (and practising what I learned another two times per week), I GOT IT!!

I swam like a swimmer!