Summertime in the South is synonymous with swimming. As a youth, I spent a lot of time in the water. My grandparents took my sisters and me, frequently, to the beach. My parents took us frequently to the community pool. My father was even a high school swim coach. Yet, I never felt comfortable swimming. Problem #1, my body floats. This should be a good thing, but not if you are trying to play the underwater games that the other kids play: underwater races, diving for pennies, speaking phrases and trying to guess what the other is saying. I can not keep my body, under water. Problem #2, breathing without swallowing water has been a issue.
In my 5th decade of life, swimming is still the same awful experience that it was as a child. A couple of summers ago, I buckled down and signed up for an adult, group, swim class. I enjoyed being in the water, but found that what I really needed was a private lesson. Many of the students were starting from the very beginning. It was 4 lessons before we learned to glide and I had to miss the last 2 lessons due to scheduling conflicts.
As joint issues continue to hinder my fitness attempts, I’ve decided that it’s time to raise swimming lessons on the priority list. Although I can float all day long, this is one activity that I dream of taking to my retirement years: easy on the joints, relaxing, great cardiovascular and physical conditioning, and an activity that I can share with my husband. Wish me luck!
Living Over The Hill 
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