Learning to swim, for me, was as easy as a rock sinking to the bottom of the pond. Each time I was thrown in, I sank and sat there on the floor of the pool or pond. Well, now that I have that part mastered, it was time to learn something different.
One of the guys said: His Dad tossed him into a pond where the water was colder than ice, As soon as it was felt, his arms and legs were going like a windmill and he swam to shore faster than any of the others. Not to mention how he had torn up the sand on the beach before he could get his arms and legs stopped. So, I would suggest that before getting in the water, you toe test the water first!
As I recall, I never learned to swim that summer or for the next two summers. Than sometime later, the family went on a picnic where a stream was flowing rather fast into a stock pond, Our little dog fell in and was swept away, His little legs just were not large or strong enough for him to make any head way, so in I went to get him.
I was really surprised when the current took a hold and was taking me into deep water. The little dog needed help so my arm and legs started thrashing around and I got him up on shore where he started to shake the water off. The dog couldn’t have weighed more that eight or nine pounds.
So I figured, since I was already in the water, why not try to swim again, and I did but it wasn’t very far or fast. My fear of water was over, from that day on, I wasn’t even afraid to get water on my face. Now Mother doesn’t grab me and scrub my face with a wash cloth, anymore, when I get close. After that, everyone knew I was the kid with the, cleanest face in town.
I guess I should tell you, back in those days, hardly anyone had indoor plumbing, We had to carry water by the pail full from the old water well. Mother had this big old tub, it was called a double boiler and was always used to heat water, on the old wood stove and it also made a good bath tub for kids. I can remember how the copper shined on it. The lid for it made a good shield if you had any sword fights.
A kid could always find something around the house to play with. Broom or something with a handle made a good stick horse. A dish towel always made a good cape when you were superman, flying through the air, But the best capes were one of Mom’s old curtains as they were so much lighter. We used buttons from mom’s button can, for money. But no one could agree on the value of each button. Some one would say, the button they had was prettier, so it had to be worth more. And we also used them for trading, until mother found out. Then she would make us go back and get them.
This is how a lot of fights started and then the mothers would have to see another kids mother to find the buttons she wanted, Believe it or not, this is how the neighborhood sewing club got started, but it never lasted very long, The mothers all had to bring the younger kids with them and then there was nothing but fights.
Those Catholic girls thought they could lick any kid in town and they had me thinking they could. I was a Baptist, so I kept my mouth closed and walked in the allies and back yards. And I was a fast runner! There were only two Dentists in town and the kids kept them busy with dental work. I wonder if those Catholic’s got a percentage of what the dentist took in ?
The city had two police officers, one worked the day shift and the other was on the night shift, but all he done was sleep in his chair. If he was ever called out for something, he was always more than half asleep. At times, a citizen would have to show him the way back to city hall. Besides that, both of the police men were Catholics.
The people that lived on the lower end of my street were all Catholic and those that lived on the upper part were Protestant. There was one family that lived on the lower end that were Protestant, but they didn’t dare to go out at night. Most of the men that worked down in the mines, were Catholic.
If a Catholic was walking past a bank and had his hand out, the bank would be filling it with cash. Catholic’s always help each other. Protestant’s are always looking for charity. My Mother was a Catholic, other family members were Catholic! We Protestants are the minority in this town. If a Protestant walked by the bank, they would chase him away. When it came to Cats or dogs, you couldn’t tell if they were this or that.
The bells are ringing, I have to get going or I will be late for my swimming lesson. Thanks for sharing your sun shine and fresh air with me.
By: Ben R.
One of the guys said: His Dad tossed him into a pond where the water was colder than ice, As soon as it was felt, his arms and legs were going like a windmill and he swam to shore faster than any of the others. Not to mention how he had torn up the sand on the beach before he could get his arms and legs stopped. So, I would suggest that before getting in the water, you toe test the water first!
As I recall, I never learned to swim that summer or for the next two summers. Than sometime later, the family went on a picnic where a stream was flowing rather fast into a stock pond, Our little dog fell in and was swept away, His little legs just were not large or strong enough for him to make any head way, so in I went to get him.
I was really surprised when the current took a hold and was taking me into deep water. The little dog needed help so my arm and legs started thrashing around and I got him up on shore where he started to shake the water off. The dog couldn’t have weighed more that eight or nine pounds.
So I figured, since I was already in the water, why not try to swim again, and I did but it wasn’t very far or fast. My fear of water was over, from that day on, I wasn’t even afraid to get water on my face. Now Mother doesn’t grab me and scrub my face with a wash cloth, anymore, when I get close. After that, everyone knew I was the kid with the, cleanest face in town.
I guess I should tell you, back in those days, hardly anyone had indoor plumbing, We had to carry water by the pail full from the old water well. Mother had this big old tub, it was called a double boiler and was always used to heat water, on the old wood stove and it also made a good bath tub for kids. I can remember how the copper shined on it. The lid for it made a good shield if you had any sword fights.
A kid could always find something around the house to play with. Broom or something with a handle made a good stick horse. A dish towel always made a good cape when you were superman, flying through the air, But the best capes were one of Mom’s old curtains as they were so much lighter. We used buttons from mom’s button can, for money. But no one could agree on the value of each button. Some one would say, the button they had was prettier, so it had to be worth more. And we also used them for trading, until mother found out. Then she would make us go back and get them.
This is how a lot of fights started and then the mothers would have to see another kids mother to find the buttons she wanted, Believe it or not, this is how the neighborhood sewing club got started, but it never lasted very long, The mothers all had to bring the younger kids with them and then there was nothing but fights.
Those Catholic girls thought they could lick any kid in town and they had me thinking they could. I was a Baptist, so I kept my mouth closed and walked in the allies and back yards. And I was a fast runner! There were only two Dentists in town and the kids kept them busy with dental work. I wonder if those Catholic’s got a percentage of what the dentist took in ?
The city had two police officers, one worked the day shift and the other was on the night shift, but all he done was sleep in his chair. If he was ever called out for something, he was always more than half asleep. At times, a citizen would have to show him the way back to city hall. Besides that, both of the police men were Catholics.
The people that lived on the lower end of my street were all Catholic and those that lived on the upper part were Protestant. There was one family that lived on the lower end that were Protestant, but they didn’t dare to go out at night. Most of the men that worked down in the mines, were Catholic.
If a Catholic was walking past a bank and had his hand out, the bank would be filling it with cash. Catholic’s always help each other. Protestant’s are always looking for charity. My Mother was a Catholic, other family members were Catholic! We Protestants are the minority in this town. If a Protestant walked by the bank, they would chase him away. When it came to Cats or dogs, you couldn’t tell if they were this or that.
The bells are ringing, I have to get going or I will be late for my swimming lesson. Thanks for sharing your sun shine and fresh air with me.
By: Ben R.
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