What Are You Reading?

The best answer would be BOOKS. But *real* books, not that thing that sucks the life out of us called Facebook. Oh, it's OK if you're looking for a new place to get takeout, or a new recipe (you are spending more time in your kitchen too, aren't you?), or you need a dose of cute kitties or puppies, or you just got an incredible picture of your kids that the world needs to see. That's OK.

But we should be reading REAL books. Expand your mind or escape the cabin you are locked up in, leave the TV off and get that stimulation and mental nourishment that *real* writers create, not the pablum of the vast wasteland referred to by the sage Newton Minnow. Or most blogs*, including this one. (*Texasswimming.blogspot.com being a rare exception)

I had the pleasure and privilege of being invited to speak via Zoom to a group of talented young swimmers this past week. Clay Pruitt, Head Age Group Coach at COOG here in Houston, and I have been friends for a while, and he asked if I could speak to his group about the wit and wisdom of Texas' Eddie Reese, a subject Chuck Warner and I wrote about in our 2019 book release, "EDDIE REESE: Coaching Swimming, Teaching Life." It was a good group and we had a great time together.

The book referred to (aka ERCSTL) has around 130 quotes from Eddie Reese, but one quote that is not in the book is one that Eddie shared with me privately, when we shared feelings about our dogs:

"Scratch a dog and you've got a job for life."

I think that, this being Eddie Reese's 42nd year at the helm of the Longhorns, that almost qualifies as a "job for life." The care and nurturing of many hundreds of young men that have chased the black line at the Texas Swimming Center is of such high quality and character that Eddie could be said to have satisfied that dog by constantly providing the scratch that it needs, wants, and deserves.

The quote that is most applicable during these very different times is one that Eddie has said many times, and in many places, and is maybe the single most defining thing he has ever said:

"Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and the rest will take care of itself."

If you haven't acquired a copy of ERCSTL for your personal library yet, now's a good time to get one. Available on Amazon, from ASCA, online at the link above, or PayPal me $30 for a signed-by-me (Dana; Chuck lives in NJ and Eddie's out fishing somewhere), personally inscribed (tell me what you want) softcover copy (includes mailing, USA only). Just email me at boardsandbuoys@gmail.com or leave a comment.

"I'm lonely."

One of the things that is especially difficult for so many of us, regardless of age, is the desire for the social interaction we are so used to.  We miss our colleagues and teammates, our family members who don't live with us, our students and athletes, maybe even the people who smilingly bag our goods at the grocery store. The temptation to go visit someone is very strong, as alluring as the siren songs of The Odyssey or The Argonautica of Greek mythology. But we mustn't.  Why? Seems obvious, but here is something that can explain better than I can:

Visiting even 'just one friend' puts everyone at higher risk for coronavirus

Be well, stay safe, use this time wisely. Read. Call someone. Start or continue writing in a journal.

Scratch your dogs.