Do you ever find yourself reminiscing? Thinking back on old memories and stories that do nothing but make you smile? Tonight I see four girls...four little women.
We all stood, cooling in the pool. Laughing and playing our "Olympic" water-louge game. Maegan stood straight and spoke as low as her seventeen-year old voice could speak, "I now announce the American team: Brytanie, Tiphony, Shaynah, and Courtneigh." We all turned on our valley girl voices and waved to the imaginary crowd linking along the pool.
"Alright girls! This is it!" squealed Elisabeth, or Tiphony. She curled her upper lip and lisped out her words. "Even if we don't win, we just have fun!" We all laugh, then get back into character as we realize, we must be professional.
"Remember," Katie reminds us, sticking our her stomach and imitating a balding professor having no idea what he's saying, "Be a reader and you shall succeed!" I laugh almost uncontrollably.
My twelve-year old eyes, with the circular goggle tan, look in wonder at my sister and oldest cousin. Being the youngest, I felt as though we were professional swimmers.
"Elisabeth your legs are never spread wide enough!" Katie, falling out of character, states rather emphatically.
"Katie you don't pull the ankles that's why!"
"Well maybe its cause you haven't shaved and they feel nasty!" The crowd grows restless as we share our petty arguments.
"Elisabeth just spread them wider and Katie who cares! Ok guys now let's be serious!"You can tell Maegan's the oldest and she knows how to lead.
We all focus as Maegan (Brytanie) leads the way.
Full circle with no interruption, we silently loop our bodies in and out as a chain around the pool, arms perfectly straight and hair slicked back.
"No other team has been able to do it through the center, the deep area, let's see if these American ones are any better," we hear the gruff announcer shout over the speakers. We'd show him. Katie takes the first step into the middle, one swift, smooth motion and she's bobbing with me following right behind her. This is where it gets intense. "I don't believe it! The girls are attempting the middle with only 10 seconds to go and the entire team's almost all under water! Do my eyes betray me?" His words are the last thing Maegan hears as she submerges under water, she has the farthest to go and no goggles to see. We wait a full three breathless seconds till she comes shooting out of the water!
"They did it! They did it! The American team has won!"The crowds run wild as we jump up and hug each other.
We did it, we made it. Even through deep waters we were together. Each of us made sure the other made it out safely. All our training had prepared us for this moment, we had conquered the waves, the disdain.
Though years have past and there may be no more olympic victories, we never realized how much that has mirrored our lives. Through whatever storm or change, the four little women stay together.
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