My arms stretch, from the little finger muscles and the forearm to the muscles of the shoulder – muscles reaching in ways they haven’t moved in months. Or years. Fingers together. Arms in unison. The ultimate stretch: form a key hole, push back, and over.

My head bobs up and down in a rhythm, fighting the resistance the water provides, and yet floating without a care. I pry my head up and gasp for air every second stroke.

My torso moves, my chest stretching thin and my derrière tensing.

My legs propel me forward, my toes splashing the old ladies dancing nearby, my feet twisting together through the water, my thighs sending me far.

My lungs strain by the end of two laps: a proud I-just-swam-BUTTERFLY feeling.

Maybe I’ll do three laps tomorrow. Until then, I’ll stick with FREESTYLE.

BUTTERFLY is part of Phase Two of the Not-So-Frumpy Campaign: Exercise. I can lap swim for only $55 a year at my township pool. Babysitting is another $3 an hour: It is worth it.

(Phase One of the Not-So-Frumpy Campaign was purchasing a new hair dryer, because drying and doing my hair makes me feel 200 times better about myself; surely that was worth $50 once?)

I didn’t watch Michael Phelps in August; I was on vacation in New Zealand. But here he is anyway. Doesn’t this look like fun (in German too)?

Underwater view:

Michael Phelps Fly Underwater