Abby LOVES to swim.  On Labor Day every year, the neighborhood pool (to which we and about 50 other families belong), has a big party, called the ÒLabor Day Races.Ó  All Summer (2002) long, Abby practiced swimming, and she was determined to swim one of the ÒsillyÓ races that required kids to swim across the pool w/o touching the bottom.  She was all set by Labor Day.  Only trouble was, the event was almost cancelled, as it was only about 60 degrees that day.  The poolÕs not heated, so this made for some very cold water, too.  Somehow, the event was NOT cancelled.  As it got closer and closer to the time for the Ònoodle race,Ó where kids of any age could jump in & swim across on a noodle, Abby became more and more excited.  When the race began, Abby and the other kids jumped into the water.  Several of the children (including Abby) began to cry because the water was so chilly.   BUT, AbbyÕs parents quickly told her theyÕd wrap her in a big warm towel at the other side if she just swam across as sheÕd planned.  She steeled her courage & swam the fastest her parents had ever seen to the other side--without touching the bottom!  When Abby got out of the water, she was surely not crying--just very cold, and very, very proud!
	Later in the day, when it was time for the Òpenny raceÓ where kids collect pennies off the bottom of the pools (large & shallow) to turn in for candy at the eventÕs end, Abby suddenly didnÕt seem cold at all anymore!  She, and her friend Madeleine (Snyder) had plenty of candy, toys, and even prize ÒribbonsÓ to show for their hard work by the end of that day.