My name is Fred. I am 67 years old. I never learned to swim. My lovely bride and I were planning a trip to Key West this past winter. One big problem: she wanted to snorkel in Florida but I didn’t even know how to swim. I wanted to be a blessing to my wife so I decided I would take swimming lessons. I signed up for 10 weeks of adult swim lessons at the YMCA. I was so anxious and apprehensive because I always felt scared that I would drown in the water – I didn’t even feel safe in a “teacup full of water in the bathtub” (as I USED to say).

That is where Jen J. comes in. Jen is one of your instructors. She was fabulous in helping me learn the art of swimming. She was so encouraging even when I felt so down on myself. When my wife had a day off work she came to watch my lesson with Jen in Feb and she was amazed! She had never seen me actually swimming with my face in the water before.
I wanted to send this note to encourage older folks like me. Before I took lessons I felt scared and foolish that I never learned to swim. I missed out on things. Now I feel confident, satisfied and no longer afraid of the water. You can do it! Jen can help! I’d encourage anyone, who never learned to swim and wanted to, to go ahead and give swim lessons a try. Jen is the best!

Oh, by the way, the photo is of me in Florida. My wife and I went off the coast of Key West. In the photo I am at a coral reef near the floor of the Atlantic experiencing SNUBA (hybrid of snorkel and scuba). I touched the ocean floor! No life jacket! So much fun! I still am having a hard time believing I did it.