Water

Water has taken many forms in my life over the past few years. It had taken the frozen form while I had a boy play hockey for the past 12 years. I also had a daughter play for a couple of years. I was comfortable with the frozen kind. I understood it and enjoyed my time in the summer when it was blistering outside, it was cool and comfortable at the rink. In the winter, not so much but still enjoyable as I watched a boy, and to a certain extent a daugther, grow up on the ice. Early mornings, late nights, dodging pucks and sticks and helmets in the box. It was enjoyable. I returned to my roots tonight attending my alma mater and children's alma mater high school hockey game. The box was still there and comfortable. They won 9 to 0 over Skyview, a team that has been a nemesis of theirs for years. A thumping as it were. I have, however, with my youngest daugther, given up frozen water for liquid as she is swimming. I have had to learn new things, terminology, I serve as a stroke official (I have to disqualify kids when then do things wrong, it's sad and it sucks when you see them working so hard to try to do it right and succeed, and no, I am not a sadist...) and there is a crossover camaraderie that exists among the swimmers as did at the rink. I am so proud of my youngest daugther: she sliced 9 seconds off of her 50 yard time and an amazing 30 seconds off of her 100 yard swim time today! She is learning, she is trying, she did it right and she didn't stop. She has progressed so much. It is truly amazing. She finally has something that is hers, and hers alone. No one else has swum. We had kids play football, baseball, soccer, basketball, hockey but no one has ever done swimming. She is alone and unique in this. It is hers. She feels accomplished. She has what no one else has in our family. Being one of 6 and the last, I could see where she kind of got lost in the shuffle of type A personalities. She is not. She is, however, tenacious and giving. There is a certain bulldog in her that is demonstrating itself in her swimming. Way to go, princess! I am proud of you. I know water is essential for our lives. It nutures and enlivens us. It also is a great source of enjoyment for me in the past, now and into the next few years. I am thankful for water.