Swimming

When Dad's arthritis in his knees got too bad to play tennis, he decided he'd take up swimming to get exercise. The problem was that he'd never really learned to swim very well. Being my determined dad, he set out to not only learn, but to be good at it.

At first he began swimming with a snorkel and a mask because he didn't want to take the time to breath. He also wore nose plugs.

He noticed a man at the country club was a fast swimmer and wore a Speedo. Dad hired the man to teach him lessons. He also upgraded his trunks to a Speedo, although he'd wear his trunks right into the water and then take them off.

Now he had a snorkel, mask, nose plug, and Speedo.

After a lot of practice, Dad upgraded to goggles, a nose plug, and Speedos. He became a better swimmer and gained more confidence...enough confidence to forget the trunks and instead sport his Speedos right up to the pool.

I remember Dad trying to convince me to go swimming with him. He bribed my by saying, "I will only wear the Speedo in the water. Come on!" Now I wish I would have gone with him. After all, how many girls had dads in their 60s who would swim a mile a day...in a Speedo.

Afte his vision got too bad to swim, Dad took up biking. But that's a story for another post.

( Carl?)

PS--When we were on swim team, Carl purposely lost his Speedo for the entire season...in Dad's trunk. What a nice dad.