Skywatch Friday: At Last






From December 26, 2011

Years ago my parents put my sister and me though swimming lessons. At the time, we were not grateful. Mom had us out the door those summer mornings before we would like to have been. Before we knew it, there we were at the town park doing our calisthenics in the cold, damp sand and then taking orders from the Red Cross drill sergeants who didn't care how little we liked them; they worked us hard. 

Mom and dad insisted we have this survival skill. There was no conversation about how we felt about it. It was understood mom and dad called the shots and we would do what we were told. We could make all the faces we wanted. Mom and dad could take it. We would learn to swim.  Their being in charge was a very good thing.  

I was thinking about those swimming lessons while I was lying in the tub the other night and thinking how I can't dive. There was a time I could. I'd take a header off the back of our boat and swim like a fish. Then, something happened and I couldn't do it. The swim instructors of my childhood tried like the dickens to solve this problem, but I couldn't do it. Still can't. Sure, I can get into the water successfully without fuss or fanfare. But I won't go head first. 

I got to thinking the problem might be that I think too hard about it. I am too well aware of what can go wrong about going head first. Paralysis by analysis. This thinking about how I can't dive got me to thinking how I don't go to Sunday School anymore, but I did actually learn something when I did. One key lesson: "Go." That's a direct quote from the Teacher himself. I can work with that advice. 

 Go. So be it. I am going. I am going to follow a dream that has led me straight to where I want to be doing what I love to do. I'm going to North Carolina, where I have a new teaching job. I wanted this--have wanted it for a long time. I have had the support of friends and family and colleagues. I can't dive yet, but I can go. And I will put my heart into making it work.   My thanks to all my teachers.  You are legion. You are angels. 

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34 Comments

  1. This is fantastic news Sandy. A dream come true. Go head first! WHooooo hooooooooooooo

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  2. yay! a dream come true!

    great news! i'm so happy for you, sandy!

    xo

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  3. follow your heart and your dreams come true! go for it, Sandy! it will be beautiful. just like your photo!

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  4. Great news! You must be so excited!

    *´¨)
    ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ ¤*´¨)Congratulations!


    (I can't do a cartwheel.)

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  5. Go Sandy go! Follow your instincts and your heart will follow suit!

    Hank

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  6. So so Happy for you Sandy!!!

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  7. congrats Sandy!! Go to it girl.!!
    I hope they don't have hurricanes there.
    I remember driving to Florida once and boy was there a rain storm. It was like a bucket of water dropping on the car.
    So I made it through north and south carolina and was so happy but I forgot about Georgia. :(
    By this time I was so tired I fell asleep and didn't hear my husband drive us to Florida.
    I woke up at the welcome to Florida juice center, all alone in the car.
    Boy that was a total wipe out. lol

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  8. fantastic, to live and work where you love it. CONGRATS!!!

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  9. CONGRATULATIONS!!! Sandy, I have sensed how much you've wanted this. I'm excited for you. Sometimes, we must jump in head first.

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  10. Oh, I 'm so happy for you as I know how much you've been longing for this.

    Love that pic - speaks of serenity at last.

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  11. Oh, Sandy! I am so thrilled and happy for you! This is fantastic and you've certainly added a wonderful, bright note to my morning! I know how much and how long you've wanted this to happen and now it has!! And it will work!!

    Sylvia

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  12. I am so thrilled for you Sandy!!! To heck with the diving...this is wonderful news. I know how much you wanted this :)

    I'm just tickled pink. We say that down here in NC!!

    Big hugs!

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  13. What a very lovely picture!

    Oh Sandy, you are on the go?! So exciting! I hope we'll hear how it goes with you at the new place.. I wish you all the best!! :)

    I cannot dive much either.. be my guest.. hehe.. well, I can go by the head first, but not to jump out from heights..

    Have a nice day (here it's evening now..)!
    :)

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  14. Sandy -- congrats on the new job and the move, how very exciting. I strongly relate to the overthinking thing!

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  15. Anonymous6:30 PM

    Congrats Sandy! I hope the transition goes smoothly and effortlessly.

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  16. Congratulations! I think your heart has been in North Carolina for some time, and I'm delighted you will be able to join some of the rest of us down south.

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  17. Sandy, GO in the direction of your dream!Congrats and best wishes to you!

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  18. congratulations, Sandy! that's wonderful, but please stay bloggish, OK?


    Warm Aloha from Waikiki
    Comfort Spiral

    > < } } ( ° >

    ><}}(°>

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  19. That is good for you and I am happy! Congrats!

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  20. Gorgeous sky! Lovely colours!
    I wish you a Happy Friday!

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  21. Congratulations on having the courage to follow your dream/s. May your joy at the realisation of it stay with you for a long time to come and sustain you whenever those "gray days" and doubts dare to surface! Spectacular photo which reminds me that "beyond the clouds, the sun is always shining". Happy SWF.

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  22. Congratulations on this new teaching adventure. Seems so strange to move you in the middle of the school year tho. I wish you the best! After I taught for 6 years in California, I said "enough" and I moved back to WA state. I miss my home state Idaho but have no family there any longer so this is my home.

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  23. I am very happy for you. This is great news. I'm guessing you'll finish the term in CT and move over the summer?

    I had to laugh at the swimming lessons story. I took beginning lessons for five years. I can splash around with the best of them but I never could dive. Not even close.

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  24. Good for you!! Follow your dreams. To actually act on a dream is a monumental thing!! Woot!!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  25. How wonderful for you !

    I learned swimming quiet late, I was already 15 so I swim like an old grandma, hate water in my face, and have always my head up like a turtle !

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  26. Congrats my friend - never look back and just go for it. Enjoy.

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  27. Go Sandy! I'm glad your dream come true.
    Your photo is beautiful.

    Regards and best wishes

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  28. Oh that's great to read Sandy. May every wonderful dream come true and SOON! Love the photo too. Sometimes we just have to dive in and take it from there. Good on you!!! Hugs, G

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  29. I love the picture but I love the words even more! Congrats on this newest adventure. I wish you only the best as you dive right in. I didn't learn how to swim until I was 32 years old. My mother wouldn't let us go out past our knees when we were kids. I still can't dive but I enjoy the water much more now. Your parents did the right thing, just as you are doing the right thing now !!

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  30. its just pretty. skywatch...

    http://www.the-love-of-nature.com/2012/01/beautiful-warm-day-at-park.html

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  31. Go for it, Sandy! And, congratulations!

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  32. Sandy, Congratulations, I'm really happy for you! What a lovely story leading up to your great news. I hope all works out well for you--sometimes one just has to "plunge in". Beautiful photo!! Mickie :)

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  33. Congratulations, Sandy! I'm happy for you!

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  34. Beautiful shot Sandy and I'm happy that you are going to be able to set off on a new adventure. I hope that it will be all you hope for.

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