"Coach Olivia"??

Deciding a long time ago that I was the "ugly duckling" of my swimming family, hearing myself referred to as coach this week was really weird. Five swim teams call some memeber of my family head coach, my sister alone accounting for three of which. My brother, at 14, is obviously not a head coach, but even he is on a coaching staff (he is amazing...!) and teaches competitive swim clinics and lessons. He's got LOADS of talent there--just like everyone else in my fam. My family also owns a thriving swim academy and on-line swim newszine. With all of the "swim talk" penetrating the house, I decided I should just name "swimming" another member of the family (one I often get annoyed with since I am not as stuck to swimming as everyone else). I, on the other hand, am a writer. I became respetorally (sp?)allergic to chlorine in high school, swim decently and usually only find world and university swimming the interesting part of the aquatics spectrum. Last year I began writing for the newszine--which has been great and it has allowed me to get to know swimmers of world esteem. But, I knew I would never coach, teach lessons or be terribly involved. I'm the sun bather on the side of the pool who lays back on the towel covered lounge chair day dreaming and concocting stories and board kicking just to keep in shape (remember, I'm allergic).

This summer has dramatically changed everything. It had always been a cool, but far away dream to be a life guard and, if everything goes according to plan, next Thursday I should walk through the door a regular "Wendy Peffercorn." :) In addition, I became a swim lesson instructor last week. I actually really enjoy that. How amazing is it that my chlorine allergy is going away, also?! Next thing you know I'll be taking part in swim team activity. Hmmm ... Either way, I am still not real excited about my "swimming sibling," but I have warmed up to it a bit. And, it was kinda cool being called "coach." :)