"Best Twenty Bucks I Ever Spent"

Merlin doing something under water that looks a little bit like yoga.

So little did I know that Merlin couldn't swim. It was long after we were married and together at a pool that I found out he could not swim to save his life. We have all tried to give him lessons....doggy paddle, kicking your feet, trying to float and its the same result...he sinks! Now I figured he was born in Kerela near the ocean, his family has a home in the lovely area of Goa, India near the water and he talked about water parks and such in India...but never did he mention he couldn't swim! I have since found out this isn't so uncommon in India--nobody in his family knows how to swim! I never thought about it since I remember seeing photo's of them at the beach (who goes to the beach but not in the water) and even in the water but I guess now that I look they weren't swimming but more less walking in and splashing around and that is "swimming".

So Merlin decided that he was going to buy a life jacket. Off early he went to Canadian Tire to get one that was on sale. He came home with a bright yellow and black life jacket that he proudly told me only cost him $20. I thought it was a bit much, but what do I know? I know how to swim and don't need one. He has now used it twice...once we took the dogs to the quarries to go swimming and the second time at a family function where my Aunt and Uncle have a pool. After its first use he exclaimed that it was...."the best $20 I ever spent!". Merlin likes to shop, so I question him on it being the "best", but he still holds to the notion that it was the best $20 he ever spent. He is funny, but it did allow him to spend over 2 hours in the pool where he felt safe and I didn't have to worry about him drowning.

Lesson learned....go buy a life jacket for your adult spouse who can't seem to figure out how to kick their feet and push with their arms....because it will be the BEST twenty dollars you ever spent. Enough said :)