A Differently Abled Woman's Fire to Inspire

Summers for me growing up meant swimming, swimming and swimming some more. These are my fondest childhood memories. We owned a four- foot- deep pool that was semi-inground with a splinter- prone wrap-around deck. You would have to climb five stairs and reach a gate before accessing the pool and deck. I do not think until we were in high school, were we allowed to go in the pool alone. Surprisingly, we were fine with that. My mom, a teacher, worked mornings during the summer, and then would watch Days of Our Lives before venturing outside. I remember us all lining up at the top of the steps around 1:30pm, basking in the hot summer sun. Do not ask why we would race to the top stair, and line up for over a half an hour.   We would not get into the pool any sooner, and it did not make a difference if you were first on the steps, or third. We all entered the pool within the same five seconds anyhow.  But what I distinctly remember the most, was my mom coming out of the...