Yesterday after my morning swim, I was sitting poolside drying off before changing from my “training suit” to my “bathing suit” to spend the day at the pool. As most swimmers know, it’s not easy to peel off a wet suit, so I thought I’d relax a bit before battling the lycra.

I only have one training suit: green with a blue interlocking ND. I don’t wear a cap, which pains me and eases my mind a bit…In my post-competitive-mind, anyone who trains with a cap must be good or take their swimming seriously. I get in the pool to stretch my body, enjoy the water, and the quiet time. It’s healing both physically and emotionally.

While swimming yesterday, there was a coach working with a young boy on his turns. It made me smile because I love seeing the next generation of swimmers working to get better.
Afterwards, while I was relaxing on the chair, this coach approached me and asked if I swam for Notre Dame. “Yes, but more than 30 years ago!” I said to explain why I’m not so fast in the water (oh how the competitor in me does not stop!)
She smiled in a way that said, “I know,” as I realized we are about the same age.
Then she asked, “Can I ask you a sensitive question?” And then I knew. She knew.

I told her I was a freshman in the bus accident. And something happened that surprised me when I took off my readers: my eyes teared up a bit. She felt badly and apologized. No, no - they are not tears of sadness - not even close - they are tears of gratitude.

She told me she swam for Seton Hall and some of her teammates knew some of my teammates on the bus. Of course they did…we all knew each other. The swimming world is a tight knit community. She said she and her teammates had a prayer chain and prayed for us. Of course they did, that is the power of our Catholic faith. But wow, 34 years later people still remember. That is a gift.

After chatting for a bit, I thanked her. Thank you for remembering. Thank you for saying something. So often we avoid sensitive conversations because we are afraid of how they will be received. Don’t be. Say it. Reach out. Remembering is a gift.