Olympic Dreams

As a seventeen year old competitive swimmer, the other swimmer I looked up to was Mark Spitz, he was a multiple gold medal winner, a wonder in the water, a swimming blitz. I had Olympic dreams, my element was the aquatic, but life took me in another direction, it seemed, the lure of going to practices seemed less exotic. How I loved the smell of the pool chlorine, I sliced through the water as if a dolphin, I so cherished the marine, but other obligations needed to fit in. The working world was calling, and aspiring for the Game's gold had to be retired, but I was elated Mark had world records falling, and I still feel inspired. As another Summer Olympics comes to a close, I'm proud of the athletes who devote their time and sweat to their sport, and I surely suppose, I'll always treasure my long ago youth in New York. ~