I did it!

By Roberta Horowitz

Before reaching the age of 12, I had almost drowned three times. The last episode required CPR to revive me. My father told my mother "we better give her swimming lessons or we'll lose her." So that summer I took lessons. I had a great time; I lived by the pool, socializing and of course, swimming. I certainly wasn't a good swimmer nor a strong swimmer, but I set a goal for myself -- eventually I wanted to swim one mile continuously -- that's 72 laps in an Olympic-sized pool.

I began with two laps, gasping for air I had to stop. Each day I tried to swim at least the same number of laps as I had the previous day and then add a lap or two. Day after day my stamina increased. My form improved as I changed my crawl stroke. I watched children taking lessons and made changes to make my arm movements more efficient. As I approached 22 laps I had to fight boredom. I would make lists in my mind. I worked hard to keep alert. Keeping track of which lap I was up to was difficult. Was that 22 or 24? My feet kicked automatically and my arms moved to their own rhythm. It was so relaxing I had to fight sleep. Periodically I felt like a fish, as if I could breathe in the water; it was scary. Stay focused, Roberta. Each lap added up until I reached 36, a half mile. I couldn't get past that point. Day after day I swam 36 laps but not more. I couldn't get beyond it. My neck was killing me. Turning my head with each arm stroke caused great pain but I had to do that in order to breathe.

Years passed. In Israel, I was swimming in a pool at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel in Jerusalem. The sun was shining, the water sparkled as I swam lap after lap. I felt as if I were on top up the water, just skimming across the surface. it was effortless. I reached 36 laps, then 37 and 38. Lap after lap came and went. I felt as if I could swim for ever. But I stopped at, yes, you guessed it 72 laps. I did it!