Photoessay #491 - Swimming

Every Tues and Thurs evening I attend a deep water aerobics class at a local municipal pool. Most pools around here are indoor, very different from my childhood in Sacramento where all pools were outdoors. This class meets reasonably late in the evening ... 8:30-9:30pm. But, always a good crowd there, people busy training for triatholons, using the current in the 'river' 'section or swimming laps. Some families with kids also. I have noticed that, during the open swims, that the swimmers represent many minority populations. I'm sure this is very different when the pool was built in the 60s. I especially enjoy the swim team kids during the summer evenings even though make a lot of racket.

I hesitated to return to swimming two years ago. You know, the swimsuit on the overweight 50 something self. But I figure, if I can put on a suit and go to swimming class, anybody can do it. A community pool like this, nobody notices. If fact, overweight people willing to get into the pool and do the exercise class, well, we must be on the right track, you think? Better than overweight people NOT getting into the pool. Just keep talking, Sandy.

It becomes a community. The people you see at the pool in the evenings, well maybe they don't have anything better to do. Hey, the only reason you know they are there is because YOU are there too! After awhile, you have your buddies that you chat with. Hey, where's Julia, Marisa and Silvie tonight? Linda's late as usual. Where's Jane, a custodian at the local elementary school who used her work breaks to come by and take the class. Last time she came she said she was going to attend EVERY time and we haven't seen her since.

The class attracts women of a certain age. Most of the time, Norman (pictured) teaches. He's on the low side of 20, we're all old enough to be his mother or more. A delightful young man, Norman does a great job with his class. I enjoy him quite a bit and his experiences as a young man coming of age. I guess we act as his aunties. He's supposed to take our advice. And I think he's fond of us too. We tease him about his music, we insist that he include Motown and Frank Sinatra. None of this techno stuff.

Norman is just starting his class in the deep end last night.