THE BET

Right before we left the Ranch, I told Seth and Adam that if they swam the length of the pool in the 50 degree water I would take them to McDonald's. Seth dove in, and almost as quickly as his body hit the water, he got out. He got out so fast that it looked like he was walking on water! Adam and Seth started whining that it wasn't fair that they had to swim to be able to go to McDonald's. Their Aunt Lara had pity on them, and told me that I couldn't expect them to swim, if I didn't do it also. She said, I needed to be a good father and lead by example." I told her that no one was giving me anything to swim, so... she bet me pizza for the whole family at our favorite pizza restaurant, if I swam the length of the pool. I put on my shorts and after a lot of mental anguish (how could I let my little sister show me up!), I jumped in the pool! It was brutally cold, but as I started to swim, I heard a splash. Seth had jumped in and was right behind me. Then there was another splash and Adam jumped in. All three of us finished swimming the lap. Lee, Lara's husband came out and was joking around with Lara about how she was going to pay off her bet (she is a stay at home mom). So I told Lee, I would call it even if he swam a lap. For the honor of his family and to save a little cash, he swam the lap! I learned a huge unintended lesson about leading by example as a father! Joel