I was 5 years old the first time I almost drowned.

My mother, younger siblings and I were staying in a hotel in Palm Springs.

It was the one and only time I met my Grandpa before he died of a heart attack.  I only saw my Grandma one more time after this visit.

A little boy I met at the hotel and I were playing hide and seek out by the pool. I do not recall where my Grandpa was and my mom was in the hotel room with my brother and sister.

It was my turn to seek and I found the boy hiding behind one of the vending machines .We were laughing as we were walking to the other side of the pool;

Without any warning he shoved me into the deep end of the pool and ran away.

I did not know how to swim and of course panicked, thrashing and kicking , trying to get my head above water to know avail.

I could see the blue sky and sun above me but no matter how hard I tried, I could not break the surface even with my little hands.

I saw the silver hand rail and side steps to climb out and came so very close to grasping the rail, only to find my fingers not quite able to grip it and I would float farther away.

Finally no longer able to hold my breath,

I took a big gulp of water in and at that very moment was pulled up out of the water and into the air.

Crying, choking and gasping I instantly threw up. My nose and throat hurt terribly. Eventually I was wrapped in a towel and carried by my Grandpa to the hotel room where i was reunited with my momma.

I never saw the little boy again.

Time turns slowly when you believe you are drowning.

Still I returned to the water.