The Roman Waterbaby Rock---by Reb MacRath
Three great passions conjoined this month in an odd and unexpected way. Who could have guessed that swimming lessons late in life could splash over into my study of Latin and the writing mojo beached for months after surgery and rehab?
To begin at the end, or what seemed like The End, Five months of PT after my June TKR seemed to have reached an impasse. My knee flexion was shy of what we'd hoped. Though I was getting around reasonably well, odds were I'd never run again or even ride a bike. I felt I'd failed not just my knee but my sense of myself as a a warrior. And with that dual loss I'd begun to question the point--or possibility--of getting back to the WIP that I hadn't touched in months.
Enough of all that. though. It's time to get wet. My surgeon had suggested that I try working out in a pool. Water relaxed the muscles, he said, and countered gravity, which might increase my range of movement. Why not, I thought, with no burning flame of either hope of commitment. As a member of the YMCA, with a senior's Silver Sneakers membership, I had full free access to the Y's gym and swimming pool.
Enter the waterbaby, as fearful as a tot, but with a patient and nurturing counselor in Val. Her first objective was to gauge my age and physical restrictions. With flotation 'noodles', a special kickboard and other devices, she tried heroically to flatten me out on the water so that I could synchronize my breathing and my kicking. But my legs sank like stones and time and again I ended up spewing water.
But here's where the first miracle happened. Poo-poohing the very thought of our giving up, Val took me to the pool's, added another flotation device, had me take hold of the side, stretch out while keeping my head up, and try to use my core to raise and keep my leg up. Light bulb! I needed to strengthen my core and put my abs to work. And the light from this one bulb spilled over into a what the hell spirit of play. What else could I try not just in the pool but the gym?
Time now for a segue. to my first private lesson with George, a high school student with fifteen years of pool experience. George was as patient as Val and endlessly creative. He had a No Problem approach that I took to at the start. So okay, my core was weak and my neck was too stiff to turn it, here and now, to the side for air. Okay, then. First try sitting on the graduated stairs.. Grab the rails. Let your legs stretch out--and then do flutter kicks and scissor kicks till you have to stop. Then start again and keep at it till you can do sets of fifth over nd over again.
What about my stiff neck, though? No problem. Till your neck loosens up with stretching and exercise, try this. And breathe like a fish in the water.
Right on! Daily in the pool I watched the other swimmers and began to play with other strategies, new ways of loosening up, to float and backstroke on my own, etc., etc.
Before I knew it, I found myself approaching my daily hour of Latin with a far fresher, adventuresome spirit. If something troubled me--e.g., the use of the subjunctive mood or a tricky verb conjugation--okay, okay. No problem. Hit it from a a different angle. Use a mental 'flotation device'. Practice and practice again and again with no thought of fear failure.
As you'll have guessed by now, the pool and Latin lessons have carried over to my writing. Feeling anxious today? No problem. Spit out the worries and take a deep breath. Not sure where this scene is going? Hey, not to worry. Do a hundred mental flutter kicks and give time a little more time. Just keep on coming back for more again and again and again.
The Roman Waterbaby Rock, practiced religiously, results in wondrous benefits.
1) A swimmer's physique if you'd like one.
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This is my report.
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