In the Swimsuit Category

“Please Nana.”

“Yes, pleeeeeeeeeeese Nana, come swimming with us!”

Tatum and Turner looked up at me with big pleading eyes.

Eyes full of love and anticipation.

It was the love part that got me.

But in reality, how could I?

I’m a sixty-something grandmother with a

body that hasn’t gotten any better in the last

six years due to the ravishes of cancer and depression meds.

But to be honest with you, I look pretty much like a lot of sixty-something Nanas.

And so I said a hesitant “Yes, I will.”

They were so excited when Papa and I pulled into their driveway

just as their mom was finishing spraying sunscreen on them.

We got out and Tatum ran to me and lifted up my cover-up

“You’re wearing a one-piece just like me!” she said excitedly.

“Yes I am,” I replied, not quite as excitedly.

“Are you and Papa really going swimming with us?” Turner wanted to know.

“We certainly are.” said Papa.

Thinking to myself, “She didn’t even SEE my cellulite, much less comment on it.”

As we approached their community pool, I noticed there were very few people there.

The day was warm but somewhat overcast, and I guess the lack of sun

kept  many away.  Fine with me.

My courage just went up bigtime on the meter.

Papa sat down in a lounge chair and announced that he wouldn’t

be swimming until later.

Yikes!  I didn’t even have him to distract any critical onlookers.

Tatum and Turner were already in the pool as I took off my coverup

and walked toward the pool steps.

Into the water I strode and bravely went in up to my neck.

“Nana, you have to get your hair wet!”

“I do?”

“Yes, you do!” they both shouted in unison.

So onto my back I went and got my hair wet.

They splashed me with glee and shot me those looks of love and pride.

Mostly love.

“Is my mascara running?” I asked.

“You have make-up on?” queried Tatum.  “I don’t have make-up on.”

We had the best time laughing, hugging and splashing.

I threw them into the air as best I could, just like Papa had done a few days before.

As I got out of the pool sometime later,

they came with me to just sit in a chair and dry off.

I put my towel down on one chair and

pulled up another chair to rest my feet on.

They did too.

Three of us  together.

There could have been a million people there and I wouldn’t have minded.

And, as far as they were concerned, we were, right then, the only

three people at the pool.

The day had gone well.  My fears were allayed and I never

saw a critical look in their eyes.  Only love.

Willing to become more vulnerable,

Nana Mary