Empty Holes and Half Gainers

Sometimes I sit in an empty pool, down at the deep end where the walls tower above me.  I spent 21 years at the top of the pool, everyday swimming laps and praying; praying is why I now sit in it empty.  My university in all its dull wisdom drained my sanctuary, closed the doors, boarded up its windows and now ignores it like any other hole in the ground.  So I come and sit in it and ponder life.  When I first came to Union, 23 years ago, I could do a Gainer off the board here and even a much more difficult dive, a Half Gainer.  My children would ask me to do it and on those special days when I was feeling 14 at 38, I would meet their fancy dreams with my fancy acts.   Not only do I no longer have a pool for which to perform in, I am no longer able to.  I can only fall off the board.  I doubt if I could even dive.  But I tell you what—I have done many a Half Gainer.  And in that is smiling memories for the well living aged. 

Sometimes I even hold classes there.