A Young Man's Art

A picture is worth a thousand words.

That holds true to an experience I and my fellow members of the All Americrecentlyhad last week.

A fun-filled trip to go on rides at the Kennywood Amusement Park near Pittsburgh ended with me joining, well sort of, the All American Dive Team.

What luck, I thought.

Three divers dove from a platform, sometimes as high as 80 feet in the air. The team consisted of two men and a woman.

Each time the swimmers finished their stunts, they would do a military hand salute. They incorporated a rabbit hop into their acts, as well.

During that time I didn't perform any special swimming techniques. I did, however, wear the proper clothes. I just wanted to sit back and spectate.

I have been trying to master the hand salute and the bunny hop this week. Let me tell you, though, it is not as easy as it looks. You try to swim, then salute and hop.

Once the show was done, my family and I decided to meet the divers and pose for a picture. I tried to persuade my family into not getting our picture taken.

I was out voted.

I should have asked for a recount.

My unofficial membership to the group happened thanks to the picture that would be taken by aunt with my cousin's digital camera. Neither did I, or even they, expect that they would be gaining a new member to the swimming team that day.

This started when I was getting ready to go to the park that morning. My cousin questioned me as to why I was going to wear blue jean shorts to the amusement park since we were going to get wet on the rides.

I decided to change my outfit. I wore a red T-shirt and red swimming trunks. Little did I know that my clothes would end up matching the divers' outfits exactly. The only thing I lacked was a speedo. So, in the photo, I really do appear to look like one of them!

Now, for years to come, the picture could make for some great conversations at the dinner table. The photograph might also make it into next year's Red Raider year book.

And that's what vacations are about; opening our lives up to new experiences and adventures. I'm glad we took the photo now and I'm glad I get the opportunity each year to take a vacation with my family.

It's invaluable.