This Is What I've Learned...From a Rope Swing!

   “Let go of the rope…just let go of the rope!!!”

   I can still hear my teenage buddies yell, as the rope swing between my legs, left the bank, and sailed out over the Kentucky river, back and forth, time and time again…“Let go of the rope…just let go of the rope!!!” 

   Now I, like a lot of folks, have always had a fear of water, especially rivers, lakes and ponds. Oh, I’m not afraid of drowning, for I’m a pretty good swimmer. I was even a lifeguard once. It’s what’s in the water, that I’m afraid of.  And the reason why I wouldn’t let go of the rope, was because I was always wondering about what lurking, just below the surface of the water waiting there, just to get me.

   A terminal case of “Jaws syndrome!” That’s why I never liked swimming in a river.

   Snakes…I hate snakes. They’re out to get us, you know — payback for losing their legs. Those slimy, slithering, tree hugging, road crawling, heel biting things. Where I come from, we have these man-eatin’ snakes, that just dare you to go swimming. These big, fat, long, black snakes with white mouths, and big ol’ fangs along with an attitude to match, called cotton-mouths.

   Have you ever seen a, “Water-dog?” U-G-L-Y!!!  Ugly and slim ...

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