Dead Man's Float


 


A memory from my youth, keeps replaying in my mind today. I was taking swimming lessons at the old YMCA building in Elkhart, Indiana. I was maybe 6, or 7, or maybe 8 at at most.


I thought in my youthful mind, that it would be good to practice my dead-man's float during free swim at the Y pool. Dead-man's float is where you float on the water, completely relaxed and motionless, like someone who has drowned.

I felt a tap on my shoulder, and a pale and visibly shaken swim instructor was standing next to me, and everyone else was out of the pool staring at the two of us. Apparently he had seen me, blown his whistle for everyone to get out of the pool. Leaving me alone peacefully floating like a corpse on the water. I truly didn't hear the whistle, and I'm guessing the young man may have gained a few gray or white hairs that day.

The silly stupid things we do as kids/young people without thinking of how others may be effected. . . I wonder if that swim instructor ever over the years thought back to that day. . . I cannot imagine the feelings he must have felt, walking up to me in the pool, thinking I had drowned under his supervision. . . my oh my. . . I feel badly. I hope it didn't traumatize him too badly. . .

Thank You Lord for watching over me in my foolishness. . .
I love You my God. . .



Dave

P.S. Another thought comes to my mind. . . a grade school friend of mine drowned in that same pool, I'm not sure if before or after this time. His name I believe was Sam Hill. . . he lived just north of us on Willard Road. I remember my Dad and I going to his funeral. . .

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