The Old Back Slap

Before I left on my mission I spent most Friday nights at the Carson Valley Swim Center for their free on Friday night swimming. I didn't go for the swimming, I went for the diving boards. Jason Laurie was my partner in pain on these nights and some of the brothers and other friends would join on a regular basis. Our mission, do whatever we could to hurt ourselves off the diving boards.

I grew up watching Darren and Brian at Cottonwood Heights and wanted to be like them. I watched Darren do an Inward dive off the high dive when I was 7 years old. I wanted to do the same. Anytime that I went to the pool thereafter the primary activity was diving boards. I probably should have joined the diving team in school but I just couldn't see this little pot bellied kid in one of those tight speedo's. I would lose the competition before it ever got started. Parading that junk out in public simply scares people.

When there was a dive that I wanted to perform I would envision it and walk through it in my mind several times. I remember wanting to try an inward one and a half with a half twist. I could see it happening and watched myself doing it then got up and did it. It took a couple of attempts to make it happen but I got it. Perhaps my favorite of all time was the Gaynor 1 and a half. You go at the water blind with the way you are spinning. It takes vision, faith, and guts. The day I decided it needed to happen I got up on the high dive and went for it. All was going well until I hit the water flat on my back. That didn't exactly feel good. It stung pretty good but I knew that I needed to expect it. I jumped back up on the board and went for it again only to have the same result. I went a third time and again I swam back to the side of the pool in pain. At this point the life guard came over. She was probably a couple years younger then me. She pointed over to the old man in charge and said - "Do you see that man over there? He is in charge and he doesn't want you to do that again." I said that I was already numb so what did it matter. After going through it again in my mind I was determined to make it happen. I knew in my head and in my heart that I could do it. I got on the board and I went for it. I held the tuck a little longer and when I pulled out I nailed it. I'm pretty sure that old man was smiling when I got back to the surface and looked over at him. Hard to tell with his big beard but nothing else was said to me. I went and did it a few more times knowing it was possible.

We have these lessons in our lives that serve as our own personal parables. For my entire life I have never wanted to quit something that I wanted to accomplish. Even when I have failed I just keep trying. Flying off the trampoline and slamming my back into the fence on Glider lane while my head was facing the ground should have probably convinced me that doing repeated back flip front flips was not a good idea and yet I kept trying for more. Flying off into a bush didn't convince me either. Perhaps I hit my head a few too many times and that is why I am slow. No matter.

Today I had a back slapping the water experience. It stings for sure. Logic says that I should just give up but I am having a very hard time with that. I guess that is all I have to say about that right now.

I got home tonight and had a headache that was making me physically ill. I don't know that I have ever had a headache that lead to severe nausea but I had that. It was really hard to stand up. To make things better Natty was ill and has been throwing up tonight. I popped some Ibuprofen and laid down. Fortunately Jack and Andy played very well throughout. Natty kept moaning and at one point threw up all over the bathroom floor. I don't know how you make it to the bathroom and then fail to hit the bowl especially when you already have a bowl at your bedside but she managed. She came and told me and I seriously was in too much pain to even care. Just told her to close the bathroom door and I would take care of it later. That was a wonderful smell when I opened the door. While I was laying down little Jack came and laid down by me. He just wanted to give me a hug. I think he knew that I needed one. He is sensitive to a lot of things and knowing when I am hurting is one of them. I appreciate very much my little pal and each of my children. I gave the SueBug a blessing that she could rest and she has been sleeping for a while now. Grateful for her faith in asking for blessings and very grateful to hold the Priesthood and to be worthy to exercise it.