When I was 8 years old there was a free program offered by the YMCA in Evansville IN to learn to swim. I have no idea whether it was promoted by public funds or just a community gift by the Y. However, my dad brought my brother Bob and myself down for the program. I don’t remember how many days or weeks it was, but at the end they allowed the parents to come in and see their little ones swim the length of the pool. When my turn came, I dove into the pool and swam and swam and swam until I couldn’t go no more. When I stood up, I was in the middle of the pool. I couldn’t understand this, but my dad explained that maybe one arm was so much stronger than the other, and I just kept going in a circle. I felt humiliated.
I guess I finally got over it, because when I was 12, I participated in the mile swim at Camp Pahoka Boy Scout Camp and was successful. I proudly wore the emblem award they gave me on my jacket. I even sewed it on myself.
