Life Guard Days

Many of you have heard this story before…

In another life a long time ago, I was a lifeguard.

Yes, I was a real honest to goodness lifeguard from 1966 through 1969 in the far off land of WacoTexas.

Never thought much about swimming or being a lifeguard but life is full of surprises.

As a Boy Scout I learned to swim in order to get the merit badge for swimming? Go figure.

My mother never wanted me to go swimming but I learned to swim and went swimming all the time.

In order to get my merit badge I had to get a junior life saving certificate? Not only did I get the junior certificate I also got the senior certificate all in one summer! Yep, I was life guard qualified and had just recently learned to swim.

Worked as a lifeguard in the summer at several pools and then got a permanent job at the Kawans Pool where I worked for several summers. Started off as a guard and ended up as the head guard. Working as a lifeguard was and probably still is a fun job for someone who is 16……smiling.

The only draw back with being a lifeguard is having to jump in the water and save all those folks who forget how to swim just as you are talking to a pretty girl or as you are watching a pretty girl (or guy depending on who you are…smiling). Well life is tuff every now and then in the lifeguard business….smiling.

Had some close calls in my days at the pool but most of my time, as a lifeguard was fun and exciting.

Saved about ten people over the years or at least had to pull them out for one reason or another. Got to blow my whistle at lots of folks who were having too much fun. Yes, it is true; people do the strangest things in the swimming pool and in the locker rooms. I was embarrassed on many occasions; after all I was only 16 or so in those days.

Had to call an ambulance one time to have a couple removed from the pool because they got stuck together some how! Strangest site, boy and girl on top of each other on the stretcher on the way to the ambulance, wish I had a camera that day!

Got stuck in the filter tank while (tank was large enough in side for four people) cleaning it one day. I was in the tank, yes, in the tank, when another guard tried to also get in the tank. The other guard got stuck in the man hole type entryway and had to be removed by the medics. I was not a happy camper and have never been happy in tight spaces since.

Got plenty of dates in those days but also got plenty of offers for dates that I did not appreciate for one reason or another. Yep, lifeguards do get to meet all kinds of folks, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Not sure but being a lifeguard may have been one of my all time favorite jobs. Too bad I did not realize then how good a job it was.