Providential Serendipity

Life is magical when one is open to it and lives it with intent. I cannot fathom the number of coincidences that have crossed my path in the last several months. I still don't understand where this idea of swimming the channel came from. One moment I'm floating in the ocean for the first time in my life and the next I'm convincing myself that it would be a good idea to someday swim the English Channel. I don't conciously remember ever reading about or seeing a news story on the subject. If one of my family members out there knows where this came from, please enlighten me.

I can remember when we moved to Council Bluffs, IA. I believe I was 4-years-old. The subdivision was so strange to me having lived on a farm in the middle of nowhere for all but the first year of my short life. I recall pulling into the entrance of this veritable maze of large houses with grand, emerald yards. I was excited at the thought of making a few friends and hoping beyond hope that someone my age lived close to our new home.

I don't recollect what my reaction was when I first took in the sight of the neighborhood park and swimming pool that shared a property line with our back yard but I do remember watching the pool being filled for the first time. I stood at the chain link fence, my small fingers threaded through the diamond pattern, and watched the water pour into the pool wondering how long it would take. I vividly remember the smell of the chlorine and chemicals, the sun dancing on the surface. I couldn't wait until lessons started, couldn't wait to jump in and feel the enveloping sensation of being under water. I loved how sounds and sights were transformed just under the surface.

I remember those summer days with the utmost fondness; lessons in the morning then run home for lunch, wait the obligatory half hour and return to the pool as soon as the gate was unlocked, swim until dinner and again wait the necessary half hour then swim until dark. As I got older, most summer days were concluded with a neighborhood game of Kick the Can or Capture the Flag. I don't ever remember having trouble sleeping then......
My family lived there until the end of my seventh grade year.

Returning to the present and my streak of strange events, please allow me to recap:
1. I discover my co-worker is a former all-stater and coach who volunteers to train me for the channel.
2. My general inquiry to the USMS "contact us" page is responded to by Karen Burton Reeder, English Channel swimmer, record holder of the Catalina Channel, gold medalist.......the list goes on.
3. The YMCA happens to be running a free week membership promotion beginning the day I show up for my first swim in years.
4. Glenn Stout posts a comment on my blog. (I'm still a little giddy about that one.)

Okay, on to the next one.....are you ready?

I recently traveled to Seattle, WA where I exhibited my company's products at the AOPA National Assembly. This event is for orthotic and prosthetic professionals to attend for the purpose of showcasing their wares, earning continuing education credits, learning about new products, and networking with others in their field. My sister, Julie, joined me there to help work the booth. She's a great partner and we make a fantastic team. (It's also wonderful to see her!) Julie helped me at the Chicago show in 2008 so is a seasoned assistant.

We quickly became acquainted with the vendors around us and made a point to visit with them as traffic allowed. These shows are great opportunities for networking even if one is stuck in an 8' x 10' booth for three and one half days! These shows typically offer several small individual booths and a few which occupy the equivalent of six or eight of the smaller spots combined. The booth across from us was one of the larger spaces in the hall. The company had about eight reps working, their ages ranging from early thirties to early sixties, each wearing a coordinating polo. Julie and I soon discovered that this group was going to provide us with some entertainment.

Each of the reps was unique and their individual personalities ran the Myers-Briggs gamut. One of the VP's on staff soon proved to be quite the "class clown". Among stealing chairs, story telling, and chucking empty wrappers we rapidly learned that he would prove to be an amusing neighbor.

I don't want to give the impression that the show was slow or that, as vendors, our primary purpose is to goof off. As with any professional situation, if you can't find something to keep busy with during the down times you'll soon find yourself watching the clock and we all know what happens when that's the only distraction.......the day never ends.

One of the perks of working these shows is all the S.W.A.G.! (For those of you not familiar with the term it's Stuff We All Get.) Sometimes there are great little items being given away and one must act fast before they're all gone. So, during a slow stretch, I decided to take a walk around and see what I could snag. I came across a company that makes a skin protecting salve for amputees. I was intrigued, always thinking about how I can use things in a new way, and began asking if the product has other uses. She proceeded to tell me that her girlfriend, who is an open water swimmer, uses it under her wetsuit to prevent chafing. (this is right up my alley, eh?) I asked if I could have a sample and she was kind enough to oblige. Most reps don't want to get stuck with any samples at the end of the show because then they have to haul it back home.
I continued around the hall, picking up squishy vans, free orthotic inserts, mini bubble gum machines, coffee mugs, pens, bags, etc. and returned to my booth.

Mike was, of course, sitting in my chair when I returned visiting with Julie about a knee brace for her husband. I began showing them all the great things I'd picked up when I came to the salve and started to explain that I planned to try it under my suit straps once I start swimming longer distances in open water. Mike chimed in and said, "You need to talk to Jim if you're serious about open water swimming.". Mike called Jim, a white haired 50-something gentleman, over to the booth. Mike introduced us and asked me if I could guess what Jim's hobby was. I remembered hearing some conversation about triathalons across the carpet so I asked if that was it. Mike proceeded to tell me that Jim......get ready for it......SWAM THE ENGLISH CHANNEL!!!

I couldn't believe it! It was the equivalent of standing next to a rock star or Roger Federer! I couldn't spit the questions out fast enough! My mind was racing with all the things I'd been wondering about. Jim was very kind and answered all my questions, between customers of course, over the next few remaining hours left in the day. There was no way to wipe the smile from my face......I couldn't have wished for anything this amazing. The best part was having a brain to pick - in person.

I'm sure I'll be contacting him as I get closer to these goals to ask for additional advice and more specific workout information.

If I ever needed a sign that I'm on the right path, this was it. I'm convinced, without a shred of doubt, that I am supposed to do this! I just don't know why.....