Speedos and Childhood Dreams

This past weekend my husband fulfilled a child-hood dream.

When he was little he was a swimmer. He spent many summers with sun bleached hair and tan skin in his little bikini speedo swimming laps on a Jackson swim team (I've seen pictures...trust me he was a cutie!) But then like most kids do he lost interest in the sport and his parents didn't 'make him' stick with it. So he quit.

But now he is an adult and let me tell you the man can still swim. To watch him glide through the water with his propeller arms doing the backstroke or his back leaping up out of the water doing the butterfly is a beautiful thing...really.

I'm not a swimmer. Oh, but I've never let that stop me mind you. I was a lifeguard for many summers in college and to pass the long swim test you go through I did the side stroke most of the way...seriously. (hey, you can save a drowning person with a red flotation device and a strong side stroke!) So, I have always been in awe at my husband (and now sons) as they master the different strokes of the water.

Like most parents we put our own interests aside while we help our offspring pursue their new dreams of playing sports or learning instruments. But when we do take the time to knock off the dust of our own desires we sometimes shock ourselves.

I have a friend who recently took up photography and took a college class to learn the skill. Now she has a part time job using her new interest to make money and have fun. My dad after retirement taught himself how to carve and now makes beautiful wooden birds. I have always loved writing but never allowed myself to pursue the interest other than blogging until the past few months. Now I spend all my free time writing a book(more on that another time).

But my husband...he joined the MTSU Master's swim team a few weeks ago. We decided to go to the first meet in Auburn this past weekend for him to compete. Why not spend a weekend in a hotel doing nothing but eating out and watching my speedo wearing husband walk around a pool? The man did great. He didn't take home any trophies but he did get a qualifying time in the backstroke to compete in the Nationals in Arizona (which his team will be paying for...and I won't be attending...don't worry family I won't hit you up again for babysitting).

But to see him after his races. I can't describe the pride I saw on his 34 year old face pursing a dream he has had for so long. Maybe he missed his chance for the Olympics a few years back but that won't slow this guy down. I suppose I need to start shopping for bikini speedos - and well, razors (he is a hairy guy).