After my sixth-grade year, I left competitive swimming and entered synchronized swimming for the next two years.  The summers of the mid-80’s consisted of me boarding an airplane, one of which was for the very first time, with my duet partner flying to a synchronized swimming camp.

In 2025, I went swimming just six times and didn’t participate in any competitions because unexpected opportunities came up. When my life started to settle back down into its natural rhythm at the end of the year, I started to get back into swimming again.

On Palm Sunday of 2025, my earthly father, Ronnie Gene Wilson, passed away. When I first heard of his passing I didn’t feel anything – no sadness, no crying, nothing. What was wrong with me?

In 2024, my open water swimming started becoming monotonous, and I knew that I would need to spice it up so that I would continue with the sport.