For anyone who shared the same distain for the month of August that I did growing up, you know exactly why. No, it wasn't the heat that brought me to tears as swim meets and July 4th drifted into my memory... because we all know that when you're relaxing and playing in a pool it doesn't matter how hot it is outside. August meant going back to school. It meant real clothing, shoes and bedtimes. Not to mention homework. And as a kid, I'm not sure what's worse.
Flash forward to now, when my high school class officers are literally in the process of planning our 10 year reunion, and I've almost lost hope of ever feeling that free again. As an adult, there is no such thing as Summer Vacation. I usually refer to it with fond and yet condescending nostalgia, as if all my pride lies in the responsibility I've created for myself. But in all actuality, Summer has transformed into a season of opportunity for extra work instead of extra relaxation. I could lie to myself and try to believe I don't know how this happened, as if I had an overnight miracle like Tom Hanks in "Big", but I do. And tonight, at approximately 7:05pm, after three months of working 10-12 hour days, I was reminded of what Summer should mean. At least for me.
I was giving another swim lesson to a happy, fast-learning 5 year old girl in her backyard pool. This was our last lesson for the summer and from 6:30-7:30pm it was going to be my standard teaching of freestyle, backstroke, and maybe a little butterfly. But as I tried my best to peak her interest yet again, I was failing. I could feel her resisting. Not with stubborn disobendience, but with a certain sadness unexplained by obvious circumstance. It was at this moment I decided to stop being "Coach Julia" and genuinely asked her what was wrong. With tears in her goggles she looked up at me and said in the quietest voice you've ever heard, "I just want to free-swim". I couldn't blame her.
Neither could her mom. So there we went... flipping and playing, having handstand contests and swimming under eachother's leg tunnels. Memories of playing "Sharks and Minnows", "Marco/Polo" and "Colors" came rushing in... along with the silly "George Washington" hair-dos, "Little Mermaid" impressions and the ever-embarrassing wedgie wars. I truly felt like I was on summer vacation again, 10 years after the last one I got to experience. And all because a 5 year old stated what she wanted. There wasn't a fit, no breakdown or fight. She simply placed it into the universe for us to embrace or swat away like a bee. And I think if it had been any other night, I would have squashed it dead. But when it comes down to it, don't we all just want to free-swim? I wonder what would happen if we all stayed true to what we really wanted... I can tell you right now my work weeks would be three days, ha. Wouldn't yours?
Instead, I've just finished a microwaved meal and plan to work out in my living room. But it's ok! My consolation is that tomorrow is Friday. And in both kid and adult world it means the same thing: two days of freedom. I may have a different set of interests for my free time than a 5 year old, but Saturday and Sunday are the prize and we're all in the merry-go-round race together. I suppose I should make the most of it and enjoy my time with the kiddos I am blessed with meeting. Maybe they'll remind me of more lovely concepts. Afterall, kids do say the darndest things. Let's hope the next one wishes out loud for me to win the lottery...Wait, you have to play to win?
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