"The Criglow Swimming Pool"

One of my earliest childhood memories goes all the way back to when I was probably about five years old.

I remember being at the home of Don and Judy Criglow, swimming in their pool.

Don had married Judy Hebert, the daughter of Charlie Hebert, who was my grandfather's cousin. Don and Judy had a son named Chris, who was about the same age as me.

Now, I couldn't tell you much about that particular day, but there's one thing I remember as clearly as if it happened yesterday.

I was floating around in their swimming pool on some kind of raft or float. I don't remember exactly what it was, just that I was lying on it, bobbing around in the water.

The next thing I remember, I had somehow fallen off that float and was slowly sinking toward the bottom of the pool.

Now, you would think a five-year-old who couldn't swim and found himself sinking to the bottom of a swimming pool would be scared to death.

But that's not what I remember.

I remember looking up toward the surface of the water as I slowly sank. I don't recall struggling, kicking, or even trying to get back to the top.

I just remember looking up.

It's strange because, even after all these years, I can still see that moment in my mind. Almost like a dream, except it's one of the clearest memories I have from my early childhood.

I don't remember being frightened or panicking. In fact, I remember feeling strangely calm about the whole thing.

I also don't remember being pulled out of the pool or what happened immediately afterward. My memory of that day pretty much begins with me floating around and ends with me looking up from beneath the water.

Years later, Don would still talk about that incident.

What always fascinated me was that he remembered it almost exactly the same way I did.

He recalled seeing me slowly sinking toward the bottom of the pool, looking up toward the surface, without showing any signs of fear or panic.

I guess that's what made the incident so memorable to him, too.

Apparently, the experience wasn't all that traumatic for me. I never developed a fear of the water, either immediately afterward or later in life.

And here I am, more than fifty years later, still remembering that moment.

Of all the things that happened during those early years of my childhood, it's funny that something lasting only a few seconds would stay with me for the rest of my life.

I can't remember what I had for supper three nights ago, but I can still picture myself at five years old, slowly sinking toward the bottom of the Criglows' swimming pool.

Some memories fade away over time, while others remain as clear as the day they happened.

Funny how the mind works.