Talk to the Goat
Very well written post. Conveys your feelings effectively.
Sorry we aren't there in the water with you. Methaphorically, though, we are in a boat paddling alongside and you can hold on to the boat if you need to. If you tell us how we could help, you know that we would.
Keep swimming, Jay.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger?! ~ jb///
I'm reminded of the lil Nemo song. My sister often sings it to me. "Just keep Swimming".
I can't remember a time in my life when I couldn't swim, but I feel as if I could drown if I let myself.
What we do is what matters.
Keep your head above water Jay and keep your eyes peeled for a friendly dolphin, like Flipper. I bet he would pull you to shore!
It's so hard to choose. Do I save myself? Do I save the weaker one? Do I try to save us both? I suppose it comes down to you (in your situation) or whoever the one trying to swim is. How long can you tread water? How long can you hold up another person? Is this person trying to help you make it to the shore or are they simply just swimming against the current? There is only so much strength a person has until they reach their limit...and decide that if they are going to save themselves, they need to let go.
Keep swimming Jay...in the end, you'll make the decision that's best for you. Just know we are all here routing for you.
Great post, Jamie! I'm glad you didn't drown. 
Sometimes it's best to drift along with the current and not fight against it to see where it takes you. If someone else wants to drift along with you, great. If that other one is fighting the currrent, let him go. Eventually you'll get where you are supposed to be with or without him.
Just keep swimming, just keep swimming. You can do it. x
Guys - we went over 300 000 and no one told me!?!?!?
I was the genius kid who thought I could already swim and would repeatedly leap into the deep end only to sink slowly to the bottom. Finally, though, I managed to keep my head up, and then the rest of me stayed up, too. A little bit after that, I even made it to the safety of the edge.
beautifully written
don't you even think about drowning for a second, you're meant to swim.
I know that what I'm about to say is harsh. Maybe what ever is pulling you down should learn to swim, just like you did. Don't forget who is most important in life "YOU". It's like putting on the oxygen mask when a plane goes down. They tell you to put yours on first and then help who needs help. There is a reason for that. You have to help yourself before you can be of any help to someone else. Take care of Jay first. Sorry - I'll try not to let that mother in me out again
I kind of learned to swim the same way, only I was older when I finally figured it out.
I'm sure you'll make it to the shore. And perhaps instead of saving someone else, the two of you can keep each other afloat and get there together.
I took swimming lessons from the time I was an infant until I was around ten or eleven. At that point they made you dive, and I couldn't because I kept getting water up my nose. I failed the course where they make you dive a couple times and ended up in a class with kids much younger than me. Finally I stopped going. To this day I love to swim, but can't dive to save my life. I think it's the shape of my nose that's the problem.
The water might be shallower than you think. Try putting your foot down, you might feel the solid ground.
I get this - well written.
Woman, I dig you. I do.
Keep up with the analogy posts! Next time maybe use an avalanche as you head toward a Nepalese peak - or maybe a sudden rainstorm and no umbrella. Whatever it is, I'm sure you'll overcome! Keep your chin up!~
I know it's hard but consider us a big pair of water wings.
Oh and congratz on 300k Wow, and I'm only at 15k.
Jay- I've been lurking on your blog for a while, and I always enjoy the things you say. You have a way with words that amazes me! I have faith that you can "just keep swimming."
Your story of learning to swim reminded me of a funny story from when I was young. I was at a pool with my parents, and though I had already started to learn how to swim, I wasn't the best at it yet. My parents had a rule that I had to count to three before I jumped in. Well, I was so excited about swimming that while my parents had their back turned, I yelled 3-4-3 (my version of 1-2-3 at the time) and just jumped right in. My parents freaked out cause I sank right to the bottom! When they pulled me out, I was just laughing! I think my parents were a little mad at me after that.
That doesn't really seem like the best way to learn to swim.
I remember the baby pool at the public pool I used to be a member of. It was always really warm and smelled of stale urine.
SWIiiiiiiiiM, JAaaaaaaY, SWIiiiiiiM...!
from a fellow swimmer, water treader, almost drowner way off someplace in the deep blue expanse.....
some sink, some swim.
didn't darwin get famous figuring it out?
You swam to the top once and you can definitely do it again
Brilliant post!!
I don't know anyone who couldn't identify with this. I had my own struggles with "reaching the shore" last winter. I also think that a lot of us are accompanied by "poor swimmers". I've given a lot of swimming lessons...some learned, some drowned in the sea of life.
I envy your way with words Jay. Well said. You'll get to the shore. I know you will.
My mother figured I would learn how to swim by taking me out over my head ... and then leaving me there. HUH???!!! I was scared shitless!
I learned how to water ski before I learned to swim at age 15. Those little waist belt flotation devices just weren't enough to keep you afloat back in the 70's,and I gradually learned to swim from my love of water skiing.
Keep your head up Jay - and tell the weaker one to kick like hell.
keep on keeping on
I know this is a cliche metaphor... but you pull off any writing wonderfully!
Hey Jay - so you have heard my flotsam and jetsam theory about life during hard times, huh?
Just so long as, while you are the solid ground for others, they will be willing to cut you a little slack when the big waves come - okay - cause you don't need the barnacles to capsize the boat!
(how is that for a lot of mixed metaphors for you)
Okay - and don't dare repeat that advice back to me, cause I can't hear you - la la la la la...
Throwing kids in the water is never a good idea.
They threw "Jason", from the "Friday the thirteenth" movies in a lake and laughed at him; and look at how e turned out. A big Horror flick!
-P
To quote one of my favorite Morphine songs, and pardon my French: "Swim like a motherfucker...Swim!"
It started with a swim... a race with conception as the winning prize... and it continues... life is funny that way.
Love the post by the way... have yet to find one I didn't.
Cheers!
you and the wife have alot of the same experiences. If you ever come to philly, we need to make sure you two are not cousins
keep your head held high you have proved to be a survivor and survive again you will beleive me x
hey i got no big toe nails!!!!
Great thought...I know, it's hard to always be the one paddling...but you guys have each other for support...& that's no small thing.
Here's wishing you a beautiful, sunny beach day.
Oh, above-ground pools, how I miss you. The family who babysat me and my sis during the summers (they were great friends of the family, their kids were not too far off from being our brothers and sisters) had one. I still remember diving for miniatures (essentially those little plastic McDonalds toys), Marco Polo, and similar nonsense. I remember with particular fondness me, my sister, and their youngest (a year older than me) building up our lung capacity by seeing how many times we could make it around the circumference of the pool, and then trying to beat it. We would go over there after church, swim all afternoon, watch Disney while eating grilled cheese sandwiches and eventually head home for the evening, then do it again the next Sunday, and the Sunday after that. Ahh, to be young again.
We had an above ground pool, too. I used to insist that it was MEANT to be green when everyone else would refuse to swim because the water was so gross. Man, I love that pool.
You, my dear, are a fucking fabulous writer. Really affective.
In life, the only thing we can truly control is ourselves. We can struggle with life or we can relax and go with life.
More treading and a little less stroking may be in order Sweetie
Not to be nitpicky, but did you mean "not polite to stare" in that last sentence about the pool sales lady?
Just checkin'.
Nice verbal snapshot of your childhood experience.
Edited By Siteowner
Always keep the weaker one with you, if only to feed to the sharks later on...
If they drown first, keep hold until they start to fill up with gases, then you have a convenient floatation device.
That's actually the same manner in which I learned to dive. I was thrown off the high dive by my swim instructor.
Coincidentally, that's also where I gained my fear of heights. LOL
This is nice. It made me think of Prufrock.
".... Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
I do not think that they will sing to me.
I have seen them riding seaward on the waves
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black.
We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown. "
From "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot
I bet you're closer to the shore than you think. The sand is just beneath your toes.
Wow...300K? Awesomeness in its finest. Good stuff. The big question is, will you share?
Good luck in this Jay. You do write well.
Keep paddling honey. That shallow end is coming sooner or later.
Cake lady has good advice. You are only able help others by helping yourself first (that, and the saying is true - you can only help those who are willing to help themselves, teach a man to fish and whatnot).
You always make me smile with your blogs....it reassures me that you are gonna be okay and so am I. Some days life is a beach and you just gotta lay on it and enjoy the sun shining, knowing that you can't control everything!
Keep Swimming Jay!!
A beautiful post, as usual.
But you really freaked me out with the description of those toes. At least you were quiet about it; I once blurted out "Mommy, that lady's really fat!" in the grocery store, where we were standing right behind said lady. My poor mother...
When you are famous writer someday, please remember me.
What moving words. Wow. I felt this way from last fall to Feb. until finally I let a few things go and reorganized my life.
There's nothing better than swimming with my kids at the lake. My son used to be afraid of jumping off the dock. But after learning to trust the instructor and slowly moving further and further out, he's turned in Evil Kenevil of the lake.
Yeah..what they said.
Really though:
I'm jealous you had an above ground pool, I had a square thing on the concrete patio for a while, then nothing.
As far as the sinking swimming etc part of the story. I get it.. You realize when YOU hit the bottom you knew to push up, reach the top, breath and embrace the air and smile. If you didn't do that someone would have saved you but you may have been scared to get back in the water. Scary as it was it was an experience you remember..the burning and rush as you pushed up.
You can only watch that weak one try to flail around, you're not queen life guard. Take care of yourself.
having nearly drowned myself (and to this day tread water often) all I can say is even the small victories count
You win "queen of metaphors" award once again. Loved it.
I dont know how to swim properly. I can back float but i do not know how to swim. Anyway again I wish I was there with you to help you with the sinking as we all put it. Hope who ever you are holding on to either gets stronger or you do and you both are safe from what is bothering you both. Hope all is well.
If anyone's going to keep swimming it's you.
So, after moments like these, do you splash to the surface and gleefully recomend everyone else come in a nd give it a try? That's what I do...
Mother Thersa once said "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle, I just wish he didn't trust me so much..."
came, read, left.
keep swimming, you both will be fine!
btw: wide hip bones does NOT = "fat" but rather "curvy figure".
bye...
as the witch of the west disolved with water; I'm dissapearing into cyberspace.
Right when I decided to get divorced, I told my husband: "If you want to drown, that's fine with me. But don't think for one second that you're dragging me down with you."
He drowned, I swam.
I got goose bumps when I read your post.
Keep swimming, but don't forget that sometimes you have to punch the weaker swimmer who may be panicking so that you can save them from drowning.
Not sure where I was going with that metaphor. Make of it what you will.
Who doesn't want to go deeper, faster, longer???
No toe nails! That's gross. Ewww.
I love the ocean, I love swimming until I can barely see the coast, but I always know which way the tide is going, to be sure I make it back even if I get a cramp or tire out.
I'm not a fan of throwing kids in the deep water and seeing what happens. Glad it worked for you though. I probably would have been traumatized for life!
I wish I has something cute to say and witty advice for you. But just keep swimming sounds good. Maybe some warm water current will find you and help you stay afloat until you get to dry land.
I loved your last post about summer, my favorite season. AND I'm so glad you did not call psychoman. Keep us updated on that and be careful!
You've always got an inner tube/ side-of-pool here if you need it...
and yes, it was yet another beautifully written post.
when was the last time I said how amazing you are?
Such fond memories you have...
I'll be horrified to see these kiddie pools now.
and sometimes when you're sure you've climbed out of the pool, dried yourself, dressed, walked a long long way from the deep end the pressure of water above head suggests you've been sleeping in the pool but didn't know it.
your post has made me cry rather a lot. I guess that's a compliment.
Nice metaphor, Jay. I never learned to swim literally but I've been swimming through life for years. Today, I can see the shore.
Great story Jay. Your swimming theory is reminds me of the poem, Wage Peace, by Judyth Hill. http://www.seishindo.org/poetry/
...udyth_hill.html
The weaker person you are helping to keep afloat, I think your decision will eventually be based on the closeness of your relationship with this person and their willingness to try each day to push forth a little harder, removing a bit of your load.
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