Alameda community center
A favorite memory…..
I grew up with a (above ground) pool. My mom kept it up until the grands quit coming around on a regular basis (think mid teen years). Even though my daughters used it a lot, I still got them swimming lessons every year.
My youngest daughter (her sister was 3 1/2 yrs. older), had just turned 3, and I’d enrolled them in lessons at the Alameda community center on 4th st. (different age groups/times). The instructor was a pleasant, 20ish guy, and after going over the safety basics, the 1st thing he had the group do was to stand on the steps and get comfortable with the water. He also encouraged them to put their face in the water. Some did, some didn’t. My daughter, having spent countless hours in her grandmothers pool, and possibly carrying some fish DNA, decided to put her face, head, and body in the water. She was swimming under water (around the steps) for a few seconds before the instructor noticed and pulled her back onto the steps. This continued every time he took his eyes off her. I was watching her the whole time, so she was never in any danger. Damn she was adorable, and I found the whole thing immensely entertaining. The instructor was trying his best to keep her above water, while also trying to teach the 6 or 7 other youngsters to not be afraid of the water.