Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The Lifer
I really struggled to find a topic to elaborate on today. It must be my anticipation of really warm (more like hot) weather, that we're supposed to experience today.
I know that days like today will make me miss being a lifeguard more than ever. I mean, I spent 7 summers/years as a lifeguard...how could I not miss it? I was pretty sure, there for a while, that I was going to be a "lifer" lifeguard. Jeesh...I wish...then get promoted to Baywatch in Hawaii or on the west coast?! ...In my dreams.
I spent 5 of the 7 years at the Eagle Grove pool (aquatic center). The "old pool" was in its last season my first year out. It was the biggest pool around...pretty much amazing. And the babies had their own pool off to the side, which was also nice. Then the city built the aquatic center...much smaller...no baby pool...just a 0 depth entry...Not as fun if you ask me.
I spent 1 summer at the Humboldt Aquatic Center, which was much bigger than the EG plans.
Throughout college I was a lifeguard at the UNI WRC (for 3 1/2 years to be exact) and taught swimming lessons, LGI courses: CPR and certifying people to be lifeguard. I really enjoyed my time there...and miss it mucho. I met a lot, if not most, of my college friends through the WRC. We were a close knit group, whom everyone else in the WRC, except the Fac Mans (Facility Managers—they were also college students that supervised the building when the day staff/head hanchos were gone for the day), thought we were a bunch of hippies.
My last summer as a lifeguard was spent at Lost Island in Waterloo. I really loved this place. The people, the atmosphere...everything. Although...don't be fooled. This job is NOT as easy as it seems. The training is very VERY thorough, the days are long, the breaks are short, and you are down right exhausted when 6:30/7pm hits. I met a lot of really cool people that I will never forget through here. And had a lot of memories that I can look back on. Ex: Tuesday nights were basically "LI Tuesday" at Mojos in CF. I guessed that at least 75% of the people that showed up to the bar on that night were LI guards... Of course, we were careful, and knew if we had to work the next day, not to get out of hand and be responsible. It was just a fun outing. Plus, the people I worked with at this place, really knew how to have a good time. A "Mustacheo Basheo" where you could only enter if you had a mustache on...yes, that includes the ladies. A toga party, Christmas in July party, game night...you name it—these people were creative.
I definitely saw some crazy things happen in my time being a lifeguard. A no, no one ever died on my watch, or even in the same facility. I do miss my whistle and having some form of authority, even if it seemed like I was "fun hater." I think that if it paid enough and was a profession...besides on the coasts...I would definitely pursue this as a career. **Insert line about all my "alter egos"**
What can I say? I think a lot of jobs would be interesting!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment