One more meet for Gator all-stars and we can call the 2016
MVP swim season a wrap. And I’m sure I’m
not the only one that feels a little sad to say goodbye to the annual experience
of the Mount Vernon Park swim team.
The summer swim season is a non-stop, action-packed community
experience like nothing else I encounter the rest of the year. It has a clear start (time trials) and finish (all-stars), and a whole host of practices, meets,
traditions, and spirit in between. It's a ton of work and a total blast all at once. Most of the year feels like a marathon to me, but the Gator season feels
like a mad sprint. And when we get to
the finish line of early August and can take a few breaths and reflect, I
always feel like something magical just ended.
I head over to Mount Vernon Park a few times in August for a
quick swim, a glass of wine by the pond, or to drop off/pick up the kids and it
always seems a tad bit lonely to me. As
I approach the 25 meter pool I can picture the signs, tents, Gator swimmers running
around, the smell of burgers, white shirts and blue shorts everywhere, and the
buzz of the “table” on a meet day/night, but all is quiet now. Many have gone on vacation, started other
sports, or are off doing other summer things, and what we are left with are
memories. Beautiful memories that only Gator families, past and present, will understand.
I’ll post one more blog this season, sharing results of
all-stars, and then the blog will go silent until Gator nation reunites in 2017. Thank you for reading the blog, encouraging me with your kind words, and
being a part of all of our wonderful memories of the 2016 Gator season.
Peace. Love. Gators.
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