July 22nd

 

Three weeks travelling into my own biography part 3

 

The local outdoor swimming pool where I always had a seasonal ticket. I had a sweetheart for whom I was waiting. Would he come today? Would he look at me when I swam? And would we go for a walk after the swim?? I had bought from my pocket money a heavenly smelling lilac soap that I used for the shower after the swim. Even today, 35 years later, I know a few people who still go for their daily swim. We greet each other with respect after I introduced myself to one or two. With others we greet each other with the group smile of the morning swimmers.  At home in Brentwood, I am a morning swimmer as well, in our local community pool. Where ever there is a possibility to swim in the morning before breakfast, I am in!  Here in Herzogenaurach is no special morning swim time and serious swimmers met the people who want a social hour and doing exercises. It is good to be early and I got a lane either under the 3 meter jumping board (closed in the morning) or in the children section on the right side. A pleasant routine in a place where I am a guest and need to adjust to my hosts, parents who live a very tight schedule that gives them security. I try very hard to be a good guest, knowing that my presence means a lot but is also a challenge to their routine. I see my struggles to find my place and their struggles to be good parents with their own wounds and limitations. It is good to have this time with them.