How I learned to swim

Somehwere around 1949 0r 1950 I learned to swim.  the prelude to that was highly traumatic.  Mom had me down at Pleasant Lake beach, which is nothing like it is today, and tried to hold me flat on the water and told me to kick my feet and paddle my hands.  This was pretty much unsuccessful.  A week or so later, I was at the beach with the family and strayed westward towards the dreaded “drop off”.  I can tell you I knew I was pushing my luck but I did reach the end of the beach, near where it is today, and in the course of time started down the slope of no return.  Indeed, I was soon over my head and somewhat buoyant since I had full lungs.  However, I was slowly sliding down the very steep drop off to 20′.  I pretty quickly knew I was in a life or death struggle here. Instinct took over and I twisted around towards shore and with what little grip I could muster on the silty bottom tried to climb the slope. Soon I could feel some upward progress and soon made it above the water surface and gasped a breath.  It really scared me and is a vivid memory even to this day.

I decided right then and there I was going to swim and I did learn to swin in the next week or so – maybe even that same day but I have no recollection of that even other than the smiles of Mom and Dad.  The rest of the summer was bliss since all the restrictions of going to the beach were removed and my cousin Jim and I had a blast.  Cousin John also learned to swim sometime that summer and may have been a motivator too.  Every year after that and until they moved away when I was in the First Grade we were on the water and swimming.

I have loved the water all my life and was not really scared of it.  I ended up being a sailor on the big waters, a scuba diver of exotic spots and have never been far from the water every since.  Thanks Mom, Dad and Grandpa Lyons.