Water

We were at the beach last week. Sounds rather cavalier, doesn’t it? It wasn’t. It was a big deal. I’ve only been to the ocean a couple of times, and never since Chief and I married. So this was a first for our boys too. We were there with my brother and his family and our parents. We all stayed in a great house, close to the beach with a big pool. It was, truthfully, one of the nicest vacations I’ve ever had.

My world-traveler sister, N, said that Chief and I ought to go swimming one night in the ocean. “Yeah, that does sound nice.” I said. When really I’m thinking no way, never going to happen. Here is the truth; I CAN swim, but not very well. I can also tread water…briefly. The thought of being in an enormous body of water with powerful currents and not being able to touch bottom….terrifies me. Fortunately the water was too cold for anything besides running from the waves as they came on shore. Pools are better, but only the shallow end. Diving boards? Forget it…..I’ve never stepped foot on one, let alone chickened out of a jump. I am afraid of water.

The boys were a little intimidated by the sound and power of the waves. L would go and fill his bucket…but H wouldn’t even step where the sand was wet on the first day. We built a sand castle for the purpose of watching the tide destroy it. Finally I was able to coax H into sitting on my lap as the tide swept over us and the castle. Sadly one particularly strong wave spun us in a little circle (and filled my suit with 12 lbs. of sand) and that was enough for H. He was back to digging in the dry sand and asking his cousins to fill his buckets. The girls must have made a dozen or more trips!

But they are not afraid of water, in general. L is turning into a good swimmer, but always cautious. That would be one of the three words I would always use to describe my oldest…a trait that I appreciate. H on the other hand….sometimes we call him “Tank”. He will go and do nearly anything, so I was actually very surprised at his reaction to the waves. H’s newest thrill is being “thrown” into the water….and not just clearing the surface of the water either….

Note: the water where he was “landing” is actually much deeper than where Chief is standing.

I hope that they turn into great swimmers...that like jumping from the diving boards.  I will enjoy watching them...from the shallow end.