STRUGGLING WITH SERENDIPITY
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first tattoo

4/24/2019

4 Comments

 
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I flew with Beth over Boston Harbor into Logan airport. John picked us up, and we dropped our daughter off at her college dorm with only weeks left in her last semester. The next goal? Her first tattoo. Since she couldn’t swim for a few days after the inking, she’d planned the timing perfectly, immediately after a big meet and right before her next training cycle. 

It would be the last time two days passed without a long pool workout until after Beijing.
    
The day after the team announcement in Minneapolis, I held Beth’s leg down firmly at a tattoo parlor in Harvard Square. Her leg protested the needle and bounced with involuntary spasms. She chose a two-inch design on her upper left thigh of the new U.S. Paralympics symbol of a bold blue star with three waving lines of color below. The star turned out flawless despite a moving leg. We shared Beijing details with Maria over dinner at Bertucci’s in the Square. And of course, Beth showed her sister the new tattoo.

A clear and bright reminder of success.
    
Both of Beth’s elbows swelled for the first time as she started her most intense training cycle with a focus on the forward freestyle, consistently faster than the backstroke after six years of practice. A doctor prescribed a strong anti-inflammatory at a high dose. Hit with a piercing, unrelenting headache, Beth called the doctor. He ordered an MRI for the same day. I drove her to the test, relieved I lived close instead of in Ohio. I’d never seen her in that much pain before. Fortunately, the test results came back normal, and her symptoms gradually disappeared when she stopped the prescription. 

Newspapers in Massachusetts and Ohio printed articles about Beth’s upcoming Beijing trip. 


Her swim coach, Peggy, said, “Beth’s talents lie in her ability to set goals, both short and long term, overcome obstacles, and accomplish those goals while consistently maintaining a positive and fun attitude.” 

(Interested in a signed copy of Struggling with Serendipity? Click HERE!)
4 Comments
Amy Henry link
4/27/2019 10:36:51 am

Love the tattoo. I don't have Beth's excuse, but I feel certain someone would have to hold me down during the tattoo-ing, too.

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Cindy Kolbe link
4/28/2019 08:45:19 pm

Amy, when I was getting my first tattoo last year, it wasn't as bad as I expected. But then, it also was just a little heart on my wrist! ;-)

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Jason Rhode link
4/27/2019 08:47:52 pm

Welcome to the tattoo world, Beth! How many in are you, because you can't have just one. Haha!

Reply
Cindy Kolbe link
4/28/2019 08:47:24 pm

My girls and I got matching small heart tattoos on our wrists last year. The first for me and my oldest daughter, and Beth's second!

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