Old Man River did it again...

We're in. Mark swam the 100 meter breaststroke finals last night. He was second which earned him a spot on the Pan Pacific Games team. He will now stay in Irvine for the next three weeks to train and race. I will leave tomorrow morning to go back home, back to work and back to the baby for the next two weeks. I will then fly back out to Irvine (baby in tow) to cheer for Mark from the bleachers at Pan Pacs.

It is very rare that a big international competition like the Pan Pacific Games is in the U.S. This is why Annabelle's and my attendance is a must. Typically 24 hours after Mark qualifies for a big meet we are checking bank accounts, credit card balances and schedules to see if an international trip for me is possible. Typically it is not and I end up watching from the computer at 3 in the morning due to the time difference.

Not this time. This time Annabelle and I will be there, in the flesh, cheering for him.

Yesterday was similar to most race days. Mark swam in the prelims in the morning. He went a 1.01.2. Decent for a “morning swim” (a 'morning swim' is a luxury really fast swimmers have... it means that you don't have to "go" 100% and still make it back to the finals). "Morning swims" for swim wives is miserable. You're not sure how hard he is really trying or how hard anyone else was going.

Then, the rest of the day is waiting...

All day at the meet people tell me to "relax." I am convinced that they do this for their own benefit. Yes, I am nervous, but I will be fine. Mark will be fine. I am an insider. I know how he feels... it is YOU (people in the stands) that don’t understand. You make me more nervous.

After the prelims I am officially banished from the hotel room so that Mark can spit, scratch, nap and whatever else he does to prepare himself for the finals. Yesterday I sat outside all afternoon only to get a sunburn on the tops of my feet in the shape of my flip flops.

When I received the text message (3 hours later), "You can come back now," I made my way back up to the room. Mark was getting ready to go, packing his bag, and mixing his shake. .

Once we made it through traffic on the 405 I was on official coffee fetching duty. So, I dropped Mark off at the gate and rushed to the coffee shop down the street for Mark's coffee (plus an extra shot of espresso). I delivered it to Mark about an hour before start time and then made my way to the stands.

I stood by myself at the top of the bleachers (when I say bleachers, I mean bleachers that seat thousands of people). I cannot sit next to anyone while Mark is racing. Oh, who am I fooling? I cannot sit while Mark is racing. So, I pace at the top of the bleachers.

Mark raced.

I brought along the Flip video camera in hopes that I would feel good enough to tape Mark’s race. What a joke. No way… I could hardly watch. After the race I was relieved, happy, and proud and could then start to chit chat with friends and other swimming folks.

His performance earned him a spot on the Pan Pacs team and a world ranking of 6th. At Pan Pacs he will have to defend his top two (American) finish to earn a spot on the World Championship team next summer.

It has been a big couple of days. This summer was the 12^th year in a row that Mark has made the USA Swimming National Team. The youngest competitor in the meet was only 3 years old when Mark qualified for his first National Team. Way to go, Old Man River... you did it again. I couldn't be more proud.

P.S. Thanks, Tyler, for shaving Mark's back. I am thrilled that someone else got this pleasure.

My husband shaves his legs

Yes, my husband shaves his legs. He also has to shave his arms, chest, back, armpits and feet. Some might find this weird, but to us it is very normal.

My first experience with Mark and his shaving was during my sophmore year in college. Mark was taking a bath at my apartment (not sure why he chose my bathtub in which to do his ritual shaving) before his "shave and taper" meet that summer. "Shave and taper" meets are big meets typically at the end of the season. They are meets at which you are attempting to swim your "best time." In Mark's case, at least now anyway, "shave and taper" meets are usually qualifying meets, like the U.S. Olympic Trials, or international meets, like the Olympic games. Mark typically does a full shave once, twice, sometimes three times per year.

Anyway, Mark was in my bathtub, with the door closed, taking a bath. He had gone in with a can of shaving cream and a razor in hand. Not really wanting to be a part of this excitement, I kept myself busy doing little things around the apartment. After about twenty minutes or so, I hear from behind the door, "Ash... will you help me shave my back?" The sounds of these words echoed off of the shower walls.

I did not particularly want to shave Mark's back. But, I stopped what I was doing, went into the bathroom, took the razor and started shaving. Ugh-this is what became my normal.

I realize that I live a weird life in a not-so-common relationship everytime I shave my legs, miss a spot and get shaving tips from my husband (straight husband). I must admit, he does know how to shave over the knee better than anyone else I know.