"Winning is an attitude."

Earlier this month, Miss M-mv(i) received the [insert memorial name here] Award. Given at the conclusion of both the winter and summer seasons, the award celebrates the swimmer who sets an excellent example of sportsmanship and can-do spirit for the rest of the team. (Neat side note: It's the same award her brother received in his first season with the team.)

As you can see, she was both stunned and delighted by the honor. And we were delighted for her.

She and her sister had an excellent season, and both made the conference team: Miss M-mv(ii) as an alternate to the Girls 11-12 squad; Miss M-mv(i) as one of the two 13-14 girls from our team swimming in the 100 Free. She was seeded sixth and took fourth, improving her best time by .25 seconds.

Good stuff.

Some of the best stuff, though, happened on the deck and behind the scenes, including the grace and style they model -- thanking the timers, for example; congratulating competitors; extending their hands to swimmers climbing out of the pool; and so on.

Prior to the end-of-season celebration, when we speculated on the possible winners of the [insert memorial name here] Award, Miss M-mv(ii) enthusiastically maintained that Miss M-mv(i) most certainly deserved it -- especially considering her excellent work ethic at practice. Since the head coach had already advised me that Miss M-mv(i) would be receiving the award, it was a parental delight to know that her sister would so thoroughly support her.

On receiving the award, Miss M-mv(i) thanked the coaches profusely, and then turned and said, "Mom! You're the best secret-keeper... EVER! And [Miss M-mv(ii)]? Thanks for rooting for me!"

As I said, some of the best stuff.

But the truly wonderful stuff? Right this minute? The idyllic interlude between the end of winter season (early March) and the beginning of summer stroke clinic (early May).

Ahhhhhh. Bliss.

Sign me chlorine-free in the little house in the tiny woods on the prairie -- and lovin' it.