THE WATERGIRL AND LAKE SUPERIOR

 

When she was eight years old in 1967, her family were traveling in the U.P. When they reached Lake Superior, she wanted to swim. It was October so no one thought of bringing a swimsuit but she insisted. Her father gave her one of his undershirts which she put on over her underwear. Mother was annoyed with both of them and said sourly to her husband: "You'll have to wear one shirt without an undershirt now".

The sky was grey and the wind had kicked up the waves. She walked in, ankle deep at first to get used to the numbness, then up to her waist and finally slide her whole body in and swam.

She was shivering when she came out, with a grin on her face as she met her Father waiting on the beach with a big towel. He was smiling as well. For years he had written Young Adult historical novels about the early American West and heroes such as Jim Bridger. He knew what courage was and he saw this in his young daughter, striding confidently out of the cold waters of Lake Superior.