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Monday, July 26, 2010Swimming Up Stream...
Early this spring, we started bebe in swimming lessons. She is 2 and did really well in the classes, but what they focus on mostly at this age is comfort in the water. She was already comfortable, being a water baby from birth and all. So this summer we've continued swimming lessons in our pool - with life jacket or water wings, whichever she's in the mood for - and wow, is she progressing. Kicking those legs and 'digging' with her hands, keeping her body in the float position and spitting out water and holding her breath. All. Over. The. Pool. She gets in and she's one side to the other over and over for 5 or 10 minutes. The she plays with her noodle to rest and is right back, 'swimming laps'. Try to put her in a tube and she yells, "No! I need siiiiiiiim, please!" It's really just too cute. One of our 'exercises' entails flipping her onto her back and pulling her around by her ankles, allowing the life jacket to support her head. We're starting to teach her some arm movements for back-stroking. But mostly she kicks her legs. She thinks it's hilarious when I stop pulling and she keeps floating along with the current created in the pool.
Yes, we have plans to wean her off the life jacket, but for now the life jacket stays. Because, living on a lake and with her curiosity, life jackets are a must. Back to my point.
I love that she loves swimming so much. I hope that love stays with her. I've always loved swimming. Have never been especially good at it, but I love cutting through the water, pushing my body and playing around.
I feel the same way about writing. I love cutting through the dark places before I begin a book to figure out goals, motivations and conflicts. I love pushing my brain to work hard at upping the stakes throughout the books. And I love that I can experience everything from sky-diving to deep sea fishing through my characters. When I'm really brave I experience them personally, too. But I'm not often a daredevil.
So this summer while I've been teaching bebe to swim, I've been renewing my interest and love in swimming, too. And finding parallels for that love throughout my life. I love writing. Couldn't give it up if I tried. Even on days when I feel like I have ten pound weights at my ankles and I'm swimming against the current, I want to keep pushing. Keep sending queries to agents and editors. Keep working on that story that calls to my heart.
Because sooner or later that current is going to change and instead of swimming agianst the current, that current is going to carry me to a new place just like the pool current carries bebe around.
That place is my name on the cover of a book. Until I get there, I'll just keep swimming along. How about you?
