The swimmer.
We took Lula to Sandpoint lake in Idaho for a group party one summer. Our friends and neighbors Matt and Andrea had a cabin there – or access to a cabin. I can’t remember the specifics. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is there was a group of great friends that spent the days by the lake, paddle boarding and riding bikes and doing lake things.
Lula was still very young, but she was grown. She was powerful. Swimming was still new to her and Cindy had a life vest for her. We would strap it on her and get her out into the water. At first, she was timid and frightened. Then she got the hang of it and came into her own in what seemed a moment. There was the moment she wouldn’t go in, then there was the moment when all she wanted was to be in.
Cindy and I took a couple of the paddle boards and went for cruise. Andrea caught this moment. I will forever be grateful to Andrea for being there to preserve this snapshot in time.
