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In a Strange Land
Moving It
By Larry J. Pitman

The famous diplomat George Kennan lived to a ripe old age. When asked about the secret of his longevity, he said: “I just keep moving.”

I reflected on this as I was moving my body as rapidly as I could on the track at Chipoco Park in Barranco. Exercising for me has reached a new dimension under the guidance of Javier Beltran. He is an expert in training athletes and ordinary mortals such as myself. In the past few months, I have seen a dramatic difference in the shape of my body, how I stand and my balance. Every workout is different, and Javier makes it fun.

As I was pushing myself to make one more lap around the track, my mind wandered back into my childhood. At eight years old I was like a waif. Skinny as a rail. So thin that they had to put extra notches in my belt to hold up my pants. I had asthma and every allergy they could list. I hated exercise and was relieved when the doctor told my mother that I shouldn't go out and play with the neighborhood kids in the cold and foggy afternoons.

Then one day my parents decided that I needed to learn how to swim. I protested but soon found myself standing at the end of a long line to sign up for swimming lessons. I kept hoping that the classes would fill up before I got to the table. Wouldn't you know it, I was the last one to get in.

The next day I reluctantly presented myself at the Natatorium, an indoor pool built in the 1920's. After getting into our swimming suits, we were divided into groups for the different teachers. As an absolute beginner, I was delighted to get a man teacher. He looked nice. Was I in for a surprise.

The pool was very long and wide. Expecting to head for the shallow end, I was astonished when our teacher pointed to the other end of the pool and started walking there. Immediately, I realized that we were heading for the deep end and began to get nervous. As we were walking slowly to the other end, I started to look around to see if somehow I could slip away. No such luck. I was stuck.

When we got to the deep end, I was horrified to see our teacher point to the first kid and tell him to get up on the diving board. That's what the kid did, and then he had to jump off the board. By now I was in full panic. The line kept moving rapidly as each kid got up on the board and jumped. Now I was shaking, but also almost hypnotically moving forward. Before I knew it, I was next. I WAS SO SCARED.

I got up on the board and walked to the end. I was EIGHT YEARS OLD AND I WAS ABOUT TO DIE! The teacher yelled at me, and I jumped.

I landed in the water. It was warm and green. Lots of bubbles appeared around my head. It was peaceful. All of a sudden a pole was thrust into my hands. I grabbed a hold and the teacher pulled me to the side with the other kids. Joy surged through my body. I WAS ALIVE! Not only that. I had had fun. I wanted to do it again and again.

That day started a life time love for water and swimming. I couldn't stay away from the pool. My doctor told my mother not to let me swim as it was dangerous to my health. I didn't care. I was in love.

All the swimming changed my body. I got some muscles and got stronger and stronger. The asthma slowly went away.

I was on the varsity swimming team in high school and played varsity water polo for my university. No folks, this is not a Disney movie. I didn't win an Olympic Gold Medal. But more important to me, for over fifty years, everywhere I have lived, I have looked for a pool or a beach and enjoyed the feeling of being in the water.

What if I had successfully escaped from my first lesson? What if I had let fear rule my life? Then it is possible that I would never have discovered one of the great loves of my life.

Wow. You can really think some deep thoughts just walking around a track.

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