We decided to take a swimming pool exercise class for seniors…
we thought it would be sweet…
A way to get some exercise and beat the Florida heat.
Two realizations hit me as I waded in: One, the water was a little cool,
and Two, as I looked around it seemed to me…I was the oldest man in the pool.
My mind drifted back to my swimming lessons…my parents thought it’d be cool
to take me when I was just a baby…the youngest in the pool.
My birthday is on New Year’s Eve…six days after the Yule…
My parents sent me to 1st grade early so I was the youngest in my class at school.
At 21 I became a teacher…for the most part still a fool….
but here I was in Kent, Ohio…the youngest teacher in my school.
And I wondered where the time has gone…while exercising in the water…nice and cool
How have I gone from the youngest…to the oldest in the pool?
Then I found myself smiling at my good fortune…time has not been cruel…
for there beside me was my wife, Deborah, exercising in the pool.
We have a wonderful family…friends…we’ve had pets both dogs and cats….
We’ve been lucky to grow old together…and there’s nothing wrong with that!
As we finished our exercise class a baby was taking lessons…learning how to swim…
I stopped on my way out of the pool to wave and smile at him…
Secretly I hoped his life…like mine…will be a jewel….
A parting wish from the oldest man…to the youngest in the pool.
Isn’t it curious how, when we were young
we had a simple view of dreams and memory?
Memories showed us how things were
and dreams…how things could be.
But now that we are older
we have a different point of view
as memories now remind us
of our dreams that have come true.
And isn’t it curious how when we were young
the world was fun, and innocent…and new
still secretly we wished
to do what grown-ups do?
But now that we are older,
and the world is not as fun, or innocent…or new
secretly we wish
to do what children do?
They say the very young and the very old have the softest hearts.
That one possesses wisdom while in the other innocence dwells.
Which is perhaps, they say, why these two ends of the rainbow
get along so well.
As I was walking in the park he came up from behind…
He gently took my hand in his…he had something on his mind.
There were birds along the waters edge…
he didn’t wait for my assent…
he pointed in their direction, tugged my hand
and, quickly, off we went.
We chased the birds to our mutual delight…
his grip…determined, safe and strong.
The birds would fly away then fly right back
happy to play along.
He was not afraid to be near the water…
not afraid of the unknown…
Instinctively he knew by holding hands
he was not there alone.
We only walked together for a little while
before his interest realigned…
But even as he toddled off
he left his palm print etched in mine….
I say it matters not how old you are
if you walk hand in hand with a young one often…
every time they slip their hand in yours
your heart is bound to soften.