With a still lingering crick in my neck from an unfortunate waterslide incident this past summer, I reflect upon other adventures and experiences with water.

I started taking swimming lessons at the old Alexander Park Pool when I was in grade school, and my first water-related trauma occurred on the first day after getting off the bus. Upon entering the changing room, I found all these guys taking their clothes off. This came as quite a shock to me as I had never had that experience before and have tried to not make this a regular occurrence, although high school sports got kind of ugly.

The First Class of swimming lessons was learning to float on my stomach, and with much effort and determination, I managed to avoid even remotely doing this for two entire summers until unfortunately the third summer as I was just splashing around in the pool minding my own business, some older lady of about 16 years old, said, “Hey, you! Let’s see you float on your stomach.” Reluctantly I held my breath, closed my eyes stretched out and floated on my stomach. “You just passed into the Second Class.”