So there I was, a little island girl going for swimming lessons at the local pool. My mom was with me and I recall that it was early in the mornings we went. The sun had risen but the day hadn’t warmed up. Surrounded by all these strange kids. I was so unhappy, didn’t want to be there, hated the whole thing. Then it got to the point where I was supposed to go into the water. I touched it and it was freezing! They must have been crazy if they thought I was going in that! I started to cry and whine at my mom. But she made me do it anyway. Gods! She’s so good at making me do things I don’t want to do. Even to this day, she has that strange mother power. Much more so than I do. Wry look at considering how often my daughter never did what I wanted her to do. Though my son is a different story. Go figure.
Anyhow, there I am, shivering in this cold clear water and trying to pay attention to the instructor. Days go by and each time its awful to enter the water. Its always early, always cold, always horrid. But I did learn how to swim, learned how to swim rather well. Of course, it helped that my mother took us kids to the pool when it was blazing hot outside and I could actually enjoy the coolness of the water and swim with my siblings. I remember we played all sorts of games: Marco Polo, diving for coins, seeing who could stay underwater longest. *pause for thought* My mom was right, dammit. I did like swimming, it was good she took me for lessons. Even though at first I hated them. I ended up becoming a little island fish girl and would stay in the pool for hours. I joined the swim team and even won some races. I don’t much get the chance to swim these days. No pool nearby, no beach. Even though I live on an island. But I still see in my mind’s eye that little girl crying her eyes out and entering the pool. I chuckle at the memory and think about how humans are adaptable in ways we don’t totally comprehend. What we believe we hate can transform into something we love. A simple change in thought and perception. That thin line. That one edge to cross over.
©2004
Daphne Cochran-Shapiro is an Author and Poet, Virtual Assistant, Crafter, and Entrepreneur who specializes in working with people needing virtual office support and web design assistance. My goal is to empower you to be the best you can be in ALL your endeavors. I invite you to browse my sites and share your comments on my works! 
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