The lifeguard hailed me at the swimming pool yesterday to tell me I was not breathing. He demonstrated what I was doing and I agreed with his description of my lungs. It was very generous of him to offer these helpful hints, he told me a few other things to do. I tried to do what he suggested and took in galloons of water and visions of drowning came up to greet me in the shallow end.

I reported back that I was unable to do what he proposed and we discussed the adult brain briefly in relation to swimming.

Then we started discussing gymnastics and I proposed he take up the sport.

Alas, I am not sure that my 454th attempt at learning to swim from next week will be a fruitful one.  I was very confident watching the swimming instruction video, but once head hits water the chemistry changes drastically. I wonder if some are simply not born to swim, but instead to stand on their hands.