Jane Ann & Gloria Parker

Swimmers

The pool not only gave her another outlet for physical activity, it provided her a wonderful, new social network of like-minded, eccentric friends.

My mother had always taken good physical care of herself, and as a result, she outlived all of her friends. When I encouraged her to start swimming at Barton’s, she was in her 70s. One particular winter day, I remember her calling me and asking me what I was up to. When I said I’d just gotten out of swimming at Barton’s, her reply was, “You’re crazy!” I told her she ought to give it a try. She did the next day and went almost every day after that, for the rest of her life. The pool not only gave her another outlet for physical activity (she was a lifelong golfer), it provided her a wonderful, new social network of like-minded, eccentric friends. It enriched her life in so many ways…wonderful new, young friends whom she could sing for, tell jokes to, etc. Swimming at Barton’s Springs was a way of life for her for many happy years