My Personal Connection with Water

When I was eight years old, I was swimming in my backyard pool with my mom who was floating and sun-bathing on one of those inflatable rafts.  The cool summer breeze wafted past my nose as I enjoyed the beautiful weather and time away from school!  It was silent, except for the tiny splashing noises I made as I walked around and the birds chirping in the nearby trees.  I was trying my best to hold my breath for as long as I could, but I realized that I really could only hold it for maybe 20 or 30 seconds tops.  I wondered how long I would have to hold my breath in order to swim under my mom's raft.  So, I challenged myself to do this, but I never told my mom that I was attempting to swim under her.  I went on the count of three, held my breath, and submerged myself, but had trouble propelling my body in the right direction.  The next thing I knew, I was coming up for air under my mom's raft!  I started to panic as I realized I needed more air!  I couldn't hold my breath anymore and gasped, choking on the warm, chlorinated water.  I worried for my life and didn't know what to do, so I quickly grabbed hold of the raft, pulled myself to one side of it, and sucked in the life-giving air!  I screamed at my mom for nearly drowning me, and she had no idea why I was being so dramatic!  She claims I was only under her for five seconds or so, so I now I realize that death was not as close as I thought!  Strange to think how we perceive things so differently than what happens in reality!  But to this day, I have trouble swimming under things - I don't want to tempt fate!  :)