If you had told me I’d willingly take a photo of myself in a bathing suit for publication at ANY AGE, forget about this one, I’d have told you that you were nuts.
I never knew you were a lifeguard. Good for you for swimming - you look healthy, happy, and proud in your bathing suit! When I look at you I see the history of our family. You look like Crissie and Funny Grandpa, and of course, your mom and dad. We don't have a pool here in my little town anymore. When we moved here 40 years ago, we did. The kids were on the swim team. But the pool got old so they took it out. Hopefully Los Lunas will build a new one someday. Love Lisa
I loved this, especially the title! I was a lifeguard one summer and swam for exercise while pregnant. Gabrielle made that pool happen at Crosstown, I'm glad you're swimming there. Thanks again for an inspiring piece.
Thanks, Gayle! I think of Gabrielle often when I swim there. It's a gorgeous pool and the people who use it are a cross-section of the best of Memphis.
Replace the NCR pool with Centennial Beach in Naperville, IL and you’ve captured my youth and adolescence as well. The memories of donning diving gear for a “missing person” alert still crop up in dreams. TBH, “missing person” was usually a kid hiding in a bathroom stall because he didn’t want to go home or a parent who did go home, or out to run an errand for a moment, and left the kids behind (it was the ‘70s…parents did that). And oh, the twirling of the whistle and the cute lifeguard on the next stand. ❤️
Yeah, there were some pretty awful drills in my lifeguard past, too, though not a missing person. Usually a kid who didn't know how to swim on the bottom of the deep end. Yeesh. Though we were so lucky to have those days ... best to you. Are you still swimming?
I’m so delighted you are swimming; you know I’m a fan 😀
We were lucky to grow up in the Midwest at that time, when civic pride was evident and good infrastructure was important. I compare that to the South, where public pools were closed and drained when they were forced to integrate them, and private pools began to proliferate.
I wonder: whatever happened to Old River Park? When I looked on Google Maps, I saw some NCR tennis courts but no pool.
The property that was Old River now belongs to the University of Dayton, as far as I can tell; the pool is filled in. :( And you are right about infrastructure, but, at least in Memphis, the YMCAs are generally terrific pools (that's a Y pool where I'm pictured in this column). And I'd love some ad hoc swim coaching, now that I'm committed. We brag about your improving times to our friends all the time. xoxo
I am not a swimmer but I loved this post! I do remember spending summer days as a child at our local community pool (Hayes Barton)in Raleigh and it amazes me that our mother would just drop us off and leave us there for the day.
Good for you for reaching your goal Leanne. Even more importantly you are enjoying it. Maybe that is one of the good things about getting older. We get more joy out of the things we pick and choose to do. Cherry on top is when it makes us feel healthier. I've heard that pictures in a pool are good proof. :) keep taking good care of yourself.
Leanne, this story is beautiful. Thank you for sharing. With the move to Charlottesville, I plan to get back in the pool and experience all of the joy you shared in your blog. Water is my happy place, whether in or near it, and I resonate deeply with the feeling of freedom you described. Interesting side note: My best friend is also from Dayton, and her daddy worked at NCR. You likely crossed paths, and I think that is wonderful. xoxoxoox
Of course I did! And the red wig, too! Thinking of you on this, your BIRTHDAY weekend, and hoping you're planning something fun. Missing our weekends on the Spring River. Now THAT was swimming!
Love love love this! Laura Gettys
I never knew you were a lifeguard. Good for you for swimming - you look healthy, happy, and proud in your bathing suit! When I look at you I see the history of our family. You look like Crissie and Funny Grandpa, and of course, your mom and dad. We don't have a pool here in my little town anymore. When we moved here 40 years ago, we did. The kids were on the swim team. But the pool got old so they took it out. Hopefully Los Lunas will build a new one someday. Love Lisa
Hi, Lisa! I always love hearing from you. Funny Grandpa was Chrissie's dad, right? We called him GP ... I remember him well. xoxo
I loved this, especially the title! I was a lifeguard one summer and swam for exercise while pregnant. Gabrielle made that pool happen at Crosstown, I'm glad you're swimming there. Thanks again for an inspiring piece.
Thanks, Gayle! I think of Gabrielle often when I swim there. It's a gorgeous pool and the people who use it are a cross-section of the best of Memphis.
Replace the NCR pool with Centennial Beach in Naperville, IL and you’ve captured my youth and adolescence as well. The memories of donning diving gear for a “missing person” alert still crop up in dreams. TBH, “missing person” was usually a kid hiding in a bathroom stall because he didn’t want to go home or a parent who did go home, or out to run an errand for a moment, and left the kids behind (it was the ‘70s…parents did that). And oh, the twirling of the whistle and the cute lifeguard on the next stand. ❤️
Yeah, there were some pretty awful drills in my lifeguard past, too, though not a missing person. Usually a kid who didn't know how to swim on the bottom of the deep end. Yeesh. Though we were so lucky to have those days ... best to you. Are you still swimming?
I’m so delighted you are swimming; you know I’m a fan 😀
We were lucky to grow up in the Midwest at that time, when civic pride was evident and good infrastructure was important. I compare that to the South, where public pools were closed and drained when they were forced to integrate them, and private pools began to proliferate.
I wonder: whatever happened to Old River Park? When I looked on Google Maps, I saw some NCR tennis courts but no pool.
Keep up the good work!
The property that was Old River now belongs to the University of Dayton, as far as I can tell; the pool is filled in. :( And you are right about infrastructure, but, at least in Memphis, the YMCAs are generally terrific pools (that's a Y pool where I'm pictured in this column). And I'd love some ad hoc swim coaching, now that I'm committed. We brag about your improving times to our friends all the time. xoxo
I am not a swimmer but I loved this post! I do remember spending summer days as a child at our local community pool (Hayes Barton)in Raleigh and it amazes me that our mother would just drop us off and leave us there for the day.
I think the same, though that feeling of freedom -- and boredom -- was priceless. I see that now.
Good for you for reaching your goal Leanne. Even more importantly you are enjoying it. Maybe that is one of the good things about getting older. We get more joy out of the things we pick and choose to do. Cherry on top is when it makes us feel healthier. I've heard that pictures in a pool are good proof. :) keep taking good care of yourself.
Yep, I only take pool pictures on VERY special occasions. :)
Leanne, this story is beautiful. Thank you for sharing. With the move to Charlottesville, I plan to get back in the pool and experience all of the joy you shared in your blog. Water is my happy place, whether in or near it, and I resonate deeply with the feeling of freedom you described. Interesting side note: My best friend is also from Dayton, and her daddy worked at NCR. You likely crossed paths, and I think that is wonderful. xoxoxoox
Water is my happy place, too. And the world is a small and (sometimes) beautiful place.
Did you save your whistle?
Of course I did! And the red wig, too! Thinking of you on this, your BIRTHDAY weekend, and hoping you're planning something fun. Missing our weekends on the Spring River. Now THAT was swimming!