Lara’s Blog

We’re missing someone very important to us, especially as the holiday season arrives.  Eight months ago our lives changed forever when we lost Keith in an accident.  The courses of our lives have veered and we’ve had to pick up the pieces and figure out how to go on without a husband, dad, son, brother and friend.  For the most part, we are functioning and even thriving.  But as Lara put it, it’s as if we’re living an alternative reality and time does not seem the same.  I know what she means.  Carly, Lara and I are looking at the world in a different way.  And time has a different perspective.
When I get excited about something or hear something interesting, I initially want to share that with Keith.  But then I realize that’s no longer possible.  I still can’t grasp at times that he’s gone.  Gone now for eight months.  But I found out this past weekend that he is not forgotten.  The Arizona Swim Team paid a special tribute to Keith, placing a quote of Keith’s from the 2009 NCAA’s banquet on the parent t-shirts this year.  To see Keith’s name on many of the parents’ shirts just was so touching to me.  And I thank them for the honor.  Wouldn’t Keith be tickled to know all about this?
So Keith, if you “see” this, know how much you are loved, admired and missed.  Just know that our world will never be the same without you.

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It was great to be back in Austin for the Texas Invitational.  Lara, Whitney Myers and I were trying to see how we fit in.  We weren’t on the University of Arizona team, but we were with them.  Lara and Whitney weren’t trying to get any NCAA cut times, so they had to find their own goals for this meet, as post NCAA eligibility swimmers.  After traveling and competing around the world the past 6 weeks, the girls did themselves proud.  On the first day, Lara won the 50 free in a new suit that meets the standards for 2010.  She went a 22.44.  I was proud that she won that race, her baby.
The second day was the 100 back, which Lara just swam in prelims since she didn’t swim it very well.  But onto the third day and she attacked the 100 yard free.  It was a thrill to watch.  She was top seed out of pre-lims with a 49.22.  I figured her body would fatigue out, but she swam hard the whole time and was pleased with that performance.  I had to chuckle because she swam in the wrong lane.  Luckily it did not DQ her for finals, but I thought it was fairly amusing.  I returned to El Paso after prelims on Saturday, so one of the Mom’s promised to text me the results.  And I was home in time to check the results live online.  Ah, technology!  Lara finished fourth with a 49.36.  She apparently fatigued at the end.
I spoke with Lara about the race and she said that her coach, Rocket was happy with the way she swam.  He told her to go all out the third lap, and she was too fatigued to keep the pace for the last lap.  But when she’s better rested, I know that she can conquer that race.  You see, that race has always been a bit of a block for Lara.  She did not have the full confidence that she could swim the 100 free well.  But with everything that’s happened the last few weeks and coming on this trip as a post grad, her confidence is definitely increasing that she’s a world class swimmer.  And she’ll be a force to reckon with.  Lara, great things are on the way for you!

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Good to be in Austin with Lara and the Arizona Team once again.  Although this time we are with the team, not “on” the team.  However the parents and swimmers have made us feel welcome and it is nice to be among friends.  The team has not forgotten us, they have shown their love and support to us in several ways.  The most moving to me was getting one of the parent Arizona t-shirts with a tribute to Keith with his quote from the NCAA’s banquet last season.  You see, their theme this year is that the team is a very special entity and that no where else again will the kids experience such a special situation.  In essence, “Together this team is so much more than the sum of its parts”.  Cherish this experience forever.  And that quote is printed on the front of the shirt with Keith’s name.  I was overcome with emotion when I saw that shirt.  Knowing that Keith’s support as a swim dad was appreciated and not forgotten.  Keith lives on in this team.
As for prelims this morning.  Coach forgot to sign Lara up for the 100 fly, so she was in the first heat, lane 8.  Came in with a time of 55.82, good enough for the “B” final tonight.  And in the 50 free, Lara had a goggle malfunction after her starting dive and still managed to come in with a 22 for second seed tonight.  The goal is to swim a 21 again.  Now remember from the last posting that the high tech suits will be gone in international swimming as of January 2010, but college swimming has already stopped the high tech suits due to the season running into 2010.  So this morning, Lara was back in a Nike suit with the acceptable material.  So she’s looking good for having just returned from her world tour, switching from 25 short course meters to 25 short course yards, and for getting over a sinus and ear infection.  Her mom’s here to take care of her.  I am making sure she gets good food and lots of fluids.  Take note Coach Stanton.  I’m trying to be the best swim parent I can be.  If I do my job, then Lara can do her best.  Go Cats!  Go Lara!

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