“Do I get a gold star???” – Jessie Cruz on 01Aug08

For several months, my friend Jessie has been bugging me about getting to the gym for a swim. I used to “swim for fitness” some years ago when my good friend, Carleen, taught me to swim and do fun flip turns. A few weeks ago, I finally gave Jessie a call on my day off so we could hit the pool!

Normally, when a person invites me to swim at the gym, my understanding is that we are going to “swim for fitness” or swim laps. When I finally was submerged in the water and ready to go, I told Jessie that I was going to go light since it had been a long time since I had been swimming, and had played 3 hours of tennis earlier in the morning. “See you at the other end!” I told her and I was on my way!

I had decided not to wear contacts this day, so I was swimming a little blindly with my goggles, so I had asked Jessie to be my long distance eyes for me, since I may not notice someone getting into my lane. It’s a good thing I didn’t wear my Contacts that morning! As I reached the edge of the pool to see how my first lap went, I looked back to find Jessie. Despite my impaired vision, I could sense something was amiss. Had I had a better visual on what was going on halfway across the pool, I may have been panic-stricken. I almost shouted out “Put your feet down! It’s only four feet!” But, I refrained, just in case I was wrong.

A few moments later, Jessie walked over adjusting her shorts and goggles. I asked if she was okay, and she said she just needed to adjust and that she had swallowed a bit of water. I offered her my leg buoy so that she could start off slower and that I would do my regular swim. She accepted it gratefully, but didn’t know how to use it, so I showed her, and as she put her face in the water for no more than 3 seconds to watch the demonstration, and she somehow, swallowed more water! I blew it off, thinking she just “accidentally inhaled water.” No big deal, right?

We started back down to the other end of the pool. About halfway across the pool, I took a breath on my right side, only to see out of the corner of my goggles that Jessie was not near me. I pulled up, and looked back. This time, she was standing there staring at me. “Are you okay?” I asked. Then a short pause…”Yes. I am fine. Are you supposed to put your head in the water when you swim?” I didn’t know what to say except to answer in the affirmative. I told her, that it was customary to put your head in the water when you swim. I offered to give her a few pointers to make her swimming more…efficient.

She was happy to get some tips, so I immediately went into coaching mode and started at the Advanced Beginner level and gave her two things to work on. Face in the water looking slightly ahead and turning your head to the side to breathe. Off she went for about two strokes. I quickly grabbed her leg to stop. Trying to hide the panic in my voice, I asked, “Jessie, do you know how to swim?” Her response, I will never forget…”When the occasion calls for it.” I stood there for a moment stunned at what she had just said. After months of her bugging me to come to the gym, only to finally get there to find out she doesn’t even know how to swim, it took all my energy not to laugh uncontrollably in front of her. I was in coaching mode, I’m a pickin’ professional!

I gave her a few more tips and sent her on her way again. Second verse, same as the first! I grabbed her leg and stopped her again. “Jessie??? Do you know how to float?” I won’t go into what her response was, but let’s just say we spent the next 45 minutes teaching her how to float on her back and belly. When she finally was picking up the basics of floating, we worked on an easy floating/swim drill. After about 20 minutes, she finally was able to make it halfway across the pool. When she came out of the water she jumped up and asked, “Do I get a gold star???” This question pulled me right out of Coaching Mode, and right into Erika Mode. “A gold star? How about a gold kick to the face?” We both erupted into laughter and decided to call it a morning.

I am pleased to announce, that since this dreadful and scary morning, Jessie is now able to swim the length of the pool four times before taking on water, has learned the basics of the breast stroke and working to improve her form, as well as perform a flip turn 1 out of 5 attempts. She has really come along quickly, and has been getting up early every morning, to be at my house at 445-500 nearly every weekday morning! She chose this time of day, not I, just for the record.

Lesson learned: Never ASSuME when invited to go to the gym for a swim, that they mean swim laps for fitness, nor that the person doing the inviting, actually knows how to swim. You might need to call 4-1-1 to get the number for 9-1-1.

ej