Introducing “Logan PHELPS” (10/14)

The day finally arrived – the first night of swim practice via the route of CYO Swim. Logan joined the Catholic Youth Organization Swim team for our local school’s parish. They will practice 2x a week for 2-hour sessions. We missed the registration day since I was at Madonna the week before, but were able to register right before practice.

And boy was it overwhelming.

Bill took Logan in and I met them there at the beginning of the session. As I walked into the pool and smelt the smell of chlorine, I had flashbacks of some not-so-good memories, more like feelings from the past. When I walked in with Zach (hitched a ride with Karen & Zach), you could see the apprehension on Logan’s face as he was still dressed in his sweats and hoodie.

After signing him up, he & Zach swam back & forth one lap for a coach & were put into a swim group. I think they were supposed to go to a different group, but they just hooked up with their classmates in the 11/12 year old team. Logan reminded me before joining the group, that “I’m just trying this right?” After swimming a few laps – which I have to say he did quite well with – he came over and said “…I don’t think this is for me.” I snarled at him “Oh, give it a try for a few sessions; don’t make any decisions this soon.” He snarled back and then turned back to swim. (Then his good friend Zach felt overwhelmed and sat out for the rest of the session. It was quite a work out and many lungs & legs were feeling it that first session.)

A few minutes later, I noticed him laughing & talking animatedly on the sidelines with boys and girls. There are a few classmates of his from prior years that he got on quite well with – girls of course! At the end of the night, he turned to me and said, “It’s not so bad. I’ll come back.”

P.S. Both Logan & Zach came back and are having a blast. The second week was much less chaotic. Less people came which I believe is because other commitments occur & the week before everybody made a point of “claiming their spots.” They also divide the four teams into four stations: diving, kick boarding, laps, and calisthenics. A great 2-hour workout for all! But hot as hell for the audience…my mascara was unclumping as I sat there cheering Logan on.