One brave July day, in the summer after first grade, I slowly climbed the steel-rung ladder to the platform of the high-dive. Up until I started to climb, it had been just another day at Green Briar. My mother sipped on cans of Tab and worked on her tan, Michele and her friends played ping-pong and jacks, and Myrtle announced through the loud speaker, “Delicious hot knishes are available at the snack bar.” But all I could hear as I reached the top of the ladder was the sound of fear pulsing in my ears.
I stood there, and I stood there, and I stood there… It was higher than it looked from the ground! I could see all the way to Monument Road, where the big kids rode their bikes. I could see past the sunbathers to the locker room where the bees' nest was. I could see everyone’s eyes on me. I felt like a stranded kitten in a tree.
As I walked on the board to the end, it moved gently up and down. It was unexpected. I was afraid I might fall off before I got to the end. Other kids eagerly climbed up behind me waiting their turn to jump, dive, or cannonball into the chlorinated public pool. As they became restless, I froze.
I was afraid to jump in, and I was afraid to turn around and walk back to the ladder. I stood there on the edge of that plank for what felt like forever. The lifeguard offered to rescue me, and still I stood frozen. Finally, I decided that jumping was the best of my choices, so I held my nose and jumped.
I remember falling through the air, and hitting the water. I remember seeing the light of the sun above me as my arms and legs propelled me to the surface. When it was over, I felt proud of myself, and realized that it was actually kind of fun. Before long, I was just another kid scrambling up the ladder for my turn.
I have been wanting to play in New York like I wanted to jump off of that high dive. I have been standing at the edge of the board for a while now. My initial splash into this pool is on my calendar, and I am excitedly looking forward to jumping in!
If you are a New Yorker, please join me at PIANOS for an evening of songwriters in the round on Sunday June 15th.
Details for all appearances are on my website.
What pool do you want to jump into?
I stood there, and I stood there, and I stood there… It was higher than it looked from the ground! I could see all the way to Monument Road, where the big kids rode their bikes. I could see past the sunbathers to the locker room where the bees' nest was. I could see everyone’s eyes on me. I felt like a stranded kitten in a tree.
As I walked on the board to the end, it moved gently up and down. It was unexpected. I was afraid I might fall off before I got to the end. Other kids eagerly climbed up behind me waiting their turn to jump, dive, or cannonball into the chlorinated public pool. As they became restless, I froze.
I was afraid to jump in, and I was afraid to turn around and walk back to the ladder. I stood there on the edge of that plank for what felt like forever. The lifeguard offered to rescue me, and still I stood frozen. Finally, I decided that jumping was the best of my choices, so I held my nose and jumped.
I remember falling through the air, and hitting the water. I remember seeing the light of the sun above me as my arms and legs propelled me to the surface. When it was over, I felt proud of myself, and realized that it was actually kind of fun. Before long, I was just another kid scrambling up the ladder for my turn.
I have been wanting to play in New York like I wanted to jump off of that high dive. I have been standing at the edge of the board for a while now. My initial splash into this pool is on my calendar, and I am excitedly looking forward to jumping in!
If you are a New Yorker, please join me at PIANOS for an evening of songwriters in the round on Sunday June 15th.
Details for all appearances are on my website.
What pool do you want to jump into?