Just Keep Swimmin'

Hey All.

You read right, swimming lessons for me.  My lesson started out unintended.

Oh sure I don't mind getting my paws wet, it's refreshing in fact.  But my paws not touching the ground, well lets just say I am not comfortable with that.  I accidently once chased Bert in to a pond and discovered he is crazy for going in so deep.

This weekend I was out with some of my friends and we were chasing each other around.  That's Mazie chasing me.

And here the other Maisy (spelled different) chasing me.  Yep I can really tear it up on land.

Those two girls just love me.  I have so much fun with them.  And it's not a bad thing to have two lovely ladies chase you around.

Here is where things go terribly wrong.  Mazie had almost caught me and Maisy was hot on my tail.  I don't know what I was thinking, but right after momma took this picture I leaped more than HALF WAY across the river!!!!  I was in over my head, figuratively and literally.  I sunk like a rock and did not know what to do.

Then I popped up and started splashing everywhere.  Seems I was only using my front paws to swim.  If it looks like I was panicking you would be right.  The girls were very concerned about me.

So concerned that Maisy came out to see if I was OK.

Then she grabbed my collar and pulled me in.  What a gal.  I decided right there, NO MORE SWIMMING FOR ME!

That's when my BFF, Bert got involved.  He talked to me (from the deep end of the river).  "Buddy" he said, "like we practiced last Fall there is nothing to it, just remember to use all four paws, not just your front paws.  PLUS if you learn to swim you can get your own sticks out in the water.  Sticks, like this one.  Look Buddy I've got a stick, I've got a stick and you don't.  Come on Bud come and get it."

"Here's the stick Buddy, come on, come out a little further.  Come get the stick."

"Hey Buddy guess what?"

"What?"

"You're swimmin'!!

"O MY GOODNESS!!!  I'm swimming, I'm swimming!!!!!!  Hey Bert I'm swimming!!  Did ya see me Bert?  I was swimmin'"

"Well done little Buddy, well done.  Now go out and get a stick of your own."

And I did!  I got my very own stick from the deep part of the river.

My pal Bert is the best.  He kept helping me practice and soon I was more glide than splash.

Would you look at me, I'M SWIMMING.  I'm swimming with the best Golden pal there ever was.  Oh sure I am not as graceful as the Golden Boy, Bert.  But who knows by the time summer rolls around.

Just keep swimmin', just keep swimmin'.

Blessings,
Buddy