“Look at it this way… you’ll be dead soon…”
By way of comfort for my insecurities this, I felt, left a lot to be desired. My son, however, chose to expand upon his logic and I have to agree. Worrying about the gradual reshaping of a body over time is no reason not to go swimming. He is right, I may never see any of these people again. He is also right that it will actually help… Although I am constantly in motion, the exercise I am used to has become rather difficult with the increasing stiffness in a variety of joints. And anyway, it isn’t about me. The proposed pool-time is about Nick… he needs to learn to swim again.
There is a reason for this, other than the obvious ones…
The triathlon he took part in a week ago was wonderful. So are the two physios he has been working with and who were his teammates. Next year, however, they think he should do the whole event himself… the swim, the ride and the run…
Of course, there is just a minor problem with that. Nick can’t walk… and he can’t swim. He used to be able to do both, of course, but since the brain injury neither have been possible. Not a problem… apparently. He will learn to swim, or they will swim with him… and if he can’t run the course, he can walk it with support…
Fine, says my son… as long as they do the full team event together too…
Madness, of course… but beautiful madness.
So, I bought a swimsuit. I stopped going swimming when the local pools took out the diving boards thanks to health and safety. Diving was my thing; that and I used to race in backstroke… not sure the shoulders will be happy about that but that’s tough.
Meanwhile, not one to rest on his laurels, Nick booked himself on to the London to Brighton bike ride in support of Headway, another brain injury charity. He knows he cannot expect the support he had for the triathlon… not so soon… but he is doing it anyway and will cover the minimum sponsorship himself if he has to.
It is a matter of some 54 miles from London to Brighton. Twice as far as he has so far cycled. So yesterday he called me, quite late… having ridden 49 miles. Just to see if he could. This is probably just as well as he is planning on cycling the 100 miles home too after the event.
That would, you would think, be extreme enough… but no. Let’s go one better. He is going to live up to the nickname his friends gave him when he was young, due to his marked resemblance to a certain child star… and come Home Alone. He has, at this point, banned me from even being at the finish line… that way he has no back up and will have to deal with everything himself. This trike and the incredible support he received for the triathlon really have started something wonderful!
The trouble is, that leaves me no wriggle room for vanity, does it? If he has the courage to do that… then I can be seen in public in a swimsuit…
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
I am in the same boat…swimming would be really great for my joints, but the idea that I am not now nor ever will be svelte and sex again? Groan.
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A bit of a vicious circle, isn’t it?
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What a beautiful courageous son you have there, and he has a wonderful mom. Best of luck to him. About the pool thing the only thing I worry about is, do they pee in the pool. :o)
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Thanks, Patricia.. he has done incredible things lately 🙂
As to the pool…. let’s not go there, shall we? 😉
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Ahah this is a great post Sue! 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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❤ 🙂
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Sounds like a man on a mission. Good,that’s really good.
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He is quite determined, Richard 🙂
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I think it might be more than ‘quite’ 🙂
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Possibly… just a tad 🙂
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Nick is a dynamo… and so brave. Takes after his mother! 🙂
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I don’t think agreeing to wear a swimsuit puts me quite in his league 😉
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Get that suit on and get in there! x
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Nick says: “I was planning on wearing swimshorts…is there something you aren’t telling us? :)”
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I meant yer Mum!
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😀
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Reblogged this on oshriradhekrishnabole.
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He’ll be great and you’ll be gorgeous!
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One out of two isn’t bad 😉
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Heavens, what is Nick like? Has he never heard of ‘baby steps’?
Mind you, I like to set myself unreasonable goals, if it’s gonna be hard, lets make it really hard… so I know exactly what he’s doing and applaud him for it!
(I’m with you on the swimsuit front, Sue, but love to go swimming anyway!)
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Haven’t been swimming for years except for one brief and glorious dip in a warm Dorset sea two years back….
Nick read your comment and asked me to say, “Baby steps are for babies…I’m not a baby…” He grinned, though , like a boy 😀
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Reblogged this on Anita & Jaye Dawes.
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Okay, Sue, I will if you will, years since I swam, and I used to teach swimming!! Need a bigger cossie these days. The finishing line? You could always go in disguise (big hat, wellies, sunglasses – oh – and swimsuit!!)
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Oh now don’t tempt me 😀 Nick would drown me of course if I did that 😀 Almost worth it…
Teaching swimming? I could do with you up here, Judith! x
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How wonderful that Nick is already getting himself involved in other events, as no doubt it spurs him on to push his physical limitations to the max!
I love swimming but hate having to wear a costume; once you are in the water, no-one will notice how you look anyway. Go for it Sue, strut your stuff with pride in the fact that you are helping your miraculous son achieve yet another milestone 🙂
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It will probably be more a hobble than a strut, I have to say 😉 The top half I’m okay with 😉
Nick has some incredible ideas for ‘what next’… but the real courage is in how he is facing the ‘small’ challenges each day.
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Yes, I can imagine that Nick faces a myriad of challenges everyday to get through on a daily basis. That’s why what he has achieved so far is so incredible 🙂
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It is in the seemingly small things that you see it most x
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Ah, I’ve been wondering what else Nick was planning. I knew it was going to be London to Brighton – the return journey is quite an additional extra. As for next year. Wow! He’s going to be keeping you on your toes.
I know how you feel about the swimsuit!
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The other stuff he has in mind, Mary, are even more mind boggling. I believe he is going rock climbing shortly too… 😀
There are few reasons I would publicly don a swimsuit these days. Nick, of course, is one of them.
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I know how you feel about putting on a swim suit but I’m sure it’ll be okay. All the best to Nick in his future athletic events. 🙂
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I’m not that worried… yet 🙂
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Fabulous, we all can learn a lot from our children when our heart is open. Wear the swimsuit, proudly. ☺
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I intend to… I’d clear the pool if I didn’t 😉
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ha ha..never thought of that. ☺
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😀
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Reblogged this on stevetanham and commented:
More of Sue’s amazing ability to reconcile the impossible . . .
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Go for it, Sue… you know it makes sense! 😊😎👍🏻
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I’m just along for the ride, Darren 🙂
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Aren’t we all 😊
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😀
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This bike is so much about Nick’s freedom. Everything he will accomplish with the ‘bike’ will lead to better things in his entire world. 🙂
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It already is… though I am getting used to him landing unexpectedly outside my door with requests for tea 🙂
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What a great use of that bike! 🙂 To visit his momma! 🙂
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I know… I have nowhere to hide now 😉
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😉 and you have no desire to any way Sue. 🙂
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Not really 😉
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Where is an invisibility cloak when you need one? 🙂
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I could do with one… but no… like an idiot I buy a bright blue swimsuit… 😉
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I’m sure you’ll look great in a swim-suit Sue. I can’t even swim! Was taught several times but the water and I are just not good friends.
Nick sounds like he on a mission now. Wonderful to hear that, and I salute him.
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He is, Hugh… and though he has banned me from th finish line, I believe he is holding you to that ice cream 😉
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God to hear. A 99 I hope? Double flake or single?
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By that time it will probably be double with sprinkles too 😉
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Nick is so amazing to go for this big race. But I don’t think it is fair to banish you from the finish line. Who will take photos and report back to us, his LOYAL supporters? 😉
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He has instructions to take his camera… 🙂 And while I shall chomp at the bit wanting to cheer him in, I applaud him fo being ready to jump in at the deep end 🙂
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