"Thanks" LIV

Livorna Family,
  Hi All!  I hope this post finds you and your family happy, healthy, and ready for a great holiday season!  I am very excited to get home and see family and friends.  My middle brother Mike and his wife Katie are coming up from Orange County this weekend, so we're doing Thanksgiving early.  I'll be in Eugene for the 'real' Thanksgiving celebrating with my youngest brother A.J. and his girlfriend.  My parents have also 'thrown in' a ticket to the Oregon/Arizona football game next Friday, so it's a good deal all around!  I'm a Duck fan by association (my Dad is an alum), but our current coaching staff might have something to say about that (Matt at Oregon, and Katie/Hailey Arizona).  With finals a few weeks later, and winter break coming, it'll make for a well traveled end of the year.

 I will definitely be in attendance at the Livorna event on December 19th! Hope to see all of you there!  Your newsletter with event info is on it's way, if you haven't already gotten it.

  I wanted to take a little bit of time out and write something about how this time of year and Livorna go hand in hand to me.  I am very thankful for Livorna for so many reasons.  I think it goes back to when I was starting to swim at 6 or 7 at one of those 'other clubs' on the other side of Walnut Creek... swim team was life for those three months of summer.  As a kid, you love being at the pool.  All of your friends are there, your teammates, your coaches... The time on the clock was totally irrelevant.  You waited there until you were called, or you were hungry (unless someone else's mom hadn't already brought you a sandwich), or until your legs were too tired to pedal your bike home.  As a parent, I imagine the pool has become a place that you feel safe leaving your kids.  There's always another parent there with their eyes on your kids, or coaches that care just as much about every swimmer on the team not to let them get hurt or put themselves in danger. 

 Through the years we've added some time to those three months, and added a few more swimmers to our neighborhood team, but the energy and team spirit that continues to exist within the Livorna gates is still very much the same.  I have a different perspective these days. 20 years later, now coaching, I carry that same admiration that I once had for my coaches all those years ago.  I now feel it towards my assistant coaches, swimmers and parents.  I often hear swimmers and parents refer to our team as 'family.' I couldn't agree more.  Everyone is welcome, everyone is equal. 

  I'd be remiss to end this post without mentioning how you've all affected me.  Sometimes, life throws you curveballs (yea, that's an Old School reference).  My family has had a rough go over the past few years with death and illness, and I've had my battles too in my own personal life and with school... Livorna is a constant... Always has been.  I was made to feel at home from the minute I set foot on deck.  Through Livorna, I've met a lot of amazing people.  Some that I consider 'family' and 'great friends.'  Combine that with all of the love and support that I get on a daily basis from our swimmers and families, I'm a very lucky guy. 

  It's safe to say that as I dig into Thanksgiving dinner with my family this week that Livorna Swim Team (and all of you) are very much in my thoughts and prayers.  Thank you all!  Have a great holiday!

LIVE LIV,
Bryan

  More "swim team" news on the way as we get closer to the new year... promise.  Glimpses into the 'Life of Bryan' won't be a constant on here=)