How helpful. How thoughtful.  How ... Embarrassing! 

The nice lady who teaches water aerobics sweems to ask this at least once in every class.  Do I look like I am in distress?  Goodness, it makes me wonder just how bad I appear to merit such personalized attention.  

She knows I am not entirely comfortable in the pool.  I have a water phobia.  I hold my breath driving over bridges.  If I am driving next to a river I lean into the middle of the car.  I can't watch Cast Away (the plane crash scene)  I can't breath if I see a movie scene of someone under water.  I'm okay at the 4 to 5 foot end but I can't go to the deep end.  I start to panic.    

But at water aerobics I have figured out by a mark on the wall and cieling, where I am safe so even if I drift a bit, I know how far I can go.  When everyone goes long way in the pool for an exercise, I go across.  It is like a freaky game of Frogger.  

For years I have said that swimming is just trying to not drowned.  I can do that from dry land, so why get wet?  Now I think I must appear to be drowning as I am always offered these concerned enquiriers.

"I'm fine! I'm fine!", I gasp, as I cling to the side of the pool.   The 'Oh so bored' 13 year old life guard glances up.  Made his day.

I will say... I don't like drinking pool water through my nose... or any other way for that matter.