SummerTime swimming lessons. [View all]

Wish my mom had had a cell phone camera while teaching her young son to dog paddle in the creek. I can see the lessons still in my head, where the creek crossed under the road to town and the free flowing water was bitterly cold in high summer. It wasn't far from home, but she'd drive there, set up her lawn chair and gossip with the neighbors; while her first-born struggled to remain afloat. Freezing his tiny tush off. Although the creek was not deep there a short, chubby boy could always imagine being carried away in flood!

When I got a bit older the creek-ride was just right for a tyke on a bike.
This is NOT my photo. It's just to illustrate how scary a flood can be.