“Somehow I kept my head above water. I relied on the discipline, character, and strength that I had started to develop as that little girl in her first swimming pool.”
Esther Williams
A nod to Esther Williams who influenced my mother’s love of swimming which then influenced my love of it~ and my daughter’s, and on it will go. My mother raised us playing in the water, fantasizing about being mermaids, yet only once did I see her go under and get her hair wet.
The memories are vivid- my mother’s rolled out hair neatly tucked into her petaled bathing cap, the smell of that bathing cap, laying like a lizard on the bluestone to warm up because pools in the 70s were freeeeezing! It was a different time. But the message- the experience- the nourishment that water delivers is timeless.
watch this- and smile to your mothers & grandmothers…we’ve come a long way!
Times sure have changed. Thankfully. And to think these young mermaids were progressive in the 40s is mind blowing. But, alas, we play the hand we are dealt, and do our best. And are reminded, you never know the ripple effect of your efforts, decades later~~~
“Take every minute, one at a time. Don’t be fooled by a perfect sea at any given moment. Accept and rise to whatever circumstance presents itself. Be in it full tilt, your best self.”
Diane Nyad, called the toughest athlete in the world. First person in the world to swim from Cuba to Florida w/o a shark cage in 2012, at age 64.
Soooooo, I was given deep blue hair dye for my birthday. I slapped the stuff all over my head. I was excited to look like the deep blue sea! Welllllll, it turned my hair black with a few purple highlights. 🙄💜💙
Still fun!
Also, new blog post via my name here.
Young “Mermaids at Heart’s” synchronized swim & dive team offers less-than-stellar debut. Grateful for friendship — our collective willingness to be silly, remain young and plunge together for 40 days. Thankful to Elinor for the inspiration!
…in sync: NOT! But the million laughs will forever be far more memorable than perfection. Grateful for the gift of friendship: priceless.
Today! ✌️
Day 11! Lake Bluff beach (Lake Michigan) north end
The water was a teal color today, and a tad cooler than yesterday. Waves were strong but yesterday’s were stronger!
I’m desperately trying to upload my Day 10 video…the upload says its successful but I don’t see it on the blog. 🙁 I’ll try once more!
sorry about the upload issue-maybe too long? trust and thrilled you had laughs, that’s the important part.
cheers~
I love this one Elinor. I was in water ballet for several years and we performed every July 4th. Great memories! Thanks for the flashback to the triple dolphin.
Mia
Brennecke’s Beach, Kauai
I too grew up playing in the waters of so cal and Hawaii and for that I will always be grateful….