STRUGGLING WITH SERENDIPITY
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Photos
  • Press and News
  • Resources

a new vista

10/17/2018

7 Comments

 
Picture
Over a long August weekend, John and I met Beth at the San Antonio airport for our first trip to Texas. Oppressive heat welcomed us. I bothered Beth with temperature checks and wondered who had the idea for a swim meet in Texas in August. Between prelims and finals of the U.S. Paralympics meet, I left a trail of sweat through the River Walk and the Alamo, monitoring Beth’s temperature often. John’s camera captured butterflies on bright flowers, thriving in the stifling heat.
           
Beth and the other National Team swimmers learned about lactate testing, an important element of competitive swimming.
 
Lactate increased in arm and leg muscles during races, a potential problem if the athlete had another event in the same session. A quick poke for a drop of blood right after her first race revealed Beth's lactate level. After she warmed down with leisurely laps, a coach tested her blood again. If her lactate level was not low enough, she swam slowly for a longer time. Through this process, repeated after other races, they determined the optimum warm down for each swimmer, so muscles would be at peak performance for the next race.
           
Beth’s swim times in San Antonio earned her a place on the World Championship team going to South Africa.
 
Unwilling to miss a month of college, she gave up her slot immediately to allow someone else to go in her place. However, the Beijing Paralympics would not be declined.
 
Her IPC World Rankings rose to fourth and fifth with the 100 and 200 freestyle.
 
As she finished her internship on Capitol Hill, Beth decided Washington, DC was her favorite big city. Losing the last remnants of her shyness, Beth accepted her first dates. She didn’t see her disability or her wheelchair as impediments to dating.
           
She thought about how her next years would revolve around finishing at Harvard and starting graduate school, so at her request, we sold her car to a Toledo friend who needed the hand controls.
 
I would always cherish our fun road trip memories in her little blue car.

Next: Career Change!

7 Comments
Jason Rhode link
10/17/2018 03:12:35 pm

Living in TX since 6, I know how oppressive the heat can be. You guys were troopers.

Reply
Cindy Kolbe
10/19/2018 05:44:11 pm

Yes, we didn’t anticipate that kind of heat. Not the best for sightseeing!

Reply
Jason Rhode link
10/27/2018 11:46:19 am

Not at all.

Amy Henry link
10/21/2018 11:02:48 am

What a summer! Swimming records, invites to South Africa and China, and dating. What's especially great is seeing Beth really get a handle on who she is, what she wants, and managing her priorities.

Reply
Cindy Kolbe
10/21/2018 09:38:24 pm

Thanks, Amy. I loved watching her find her own way in life!

Reply
L Krietemeyer
10/22/2018 01:31:16 am

D.C. is a great place for someone who uses a wheelchair. I grew up in rural NW Ohio, still love and miss it. Accessible transportation is very difficult (its difficult in Columbus Ohio). I travel to D.C. monthly. Love the museums, monuments, history, heritage. And that its generally accessible.

Reply
Cindy Kolbe
10/22/2018 08:09:40 pm

I’m from NW Ohio, too! I grew up in Lorain and raised my kids in Tiffin. We visit relatives in Lorain and Vermilion, and have good friends in Columbus. Accessibility seems to gradually be getting better, and places like DC are a step ahead of the rest. I agree, DC is a great place to visit!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Cindy Kolbe

    Sign up for my Just Keep Swimming Newsletter by typing your email address in the box. Thanks!

    * indicates required

    Categories

    All
    Accident
    Adventure
    Anxiety
    Career
    Caregiving
    Chronic Pain
    College
    Counseling
    Depression
    Driving
    Fear
    Floating
    Friends
    Goals
    Graduation
    Gratitude
    Grief
    Group Home
    Guilt
    Harvard
    High School
    High School Swim Team
    Holidays
    Independence
    Injury
    Intensive Care
    Internship
    Job
    Moving
    Occupational Therapy
    Optimism
    Paralympics
    Paralympic Swim Team
    Perspective
    Physical Therapy
    Published Articles
    Rehab
    Road Trip
    Serendipity
    Spinal Cord Injury
    Sports
    Stanford
    Support
    Surgery
    Swim Club Team
    Swim Meet
    Swimming
    Travels
    Video
    Volunteering
    Writing

    Picture

    Archives

    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Picture

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Photos
  • Press and News
  • Resources