Dear Brenan,

Dear Brenan,

Last night I had my first swim practice for latest triathlon I am training for in November. Remember last year when I started training, I called you complaining about how hard swimming is? I said, "Brenan! This is HARD!! I don't think I can do it. My coached laughed at me." You laughed and gave me some pointers and the next time I saw you, you did your best to demonstrate the proper way to do a freestyle stroke from your hospital bed.

Last year at practice, my coach had asked me if I knew how to swim and I said, "Sure!" thinking that "swim" meant getting from point A to B without drowning. I was WAY off. I needed a lot of work. But each week I got better and better, while listening to your advice.

At last night's practice, my coach said, "I want everyone to watch Elisa. This is the way to do it, the way I want you to look. Elisa, swim out to the middle of the pool so everyone can see how long your strokes are and how you keep your head down even when you take a breath."

I've come a long way. I know you'd be proud. I miss you.

Love,
Elisa