Again?

 The Big Orange Slide at the Rush City pool is 165 feet from start to finish. That means you would have to go up three flights of stairs and back down the slide again and again 32 times to slide a full mile. By my rough calculations, Logan has traveled this route 2,318 times or the equivalency of the length of the Mississippi River. Since his days as a youngster growing up here and on into his teenage years as an employee, he has commanded the top of the slide like a sentinel standing watch over Fort Snelling. He’s tightly hugged and maneuvered through the curves like a Formula One racer. He’s mastered the art of skimming the surface for max speed. With his masterful finale in the plunge that sends a directed tidal wave wherever he wants to as if it was Splash Mountain at Disneyland, it has cost the taxpayers countless dollars in splash out water.

You’d think that it would grow old. No – it has grown old.

Yet even after 17 years of up and down that slide…after 3 years of lifeguarding and 2 years of teaching swim lessons…after Lord knows how many hot summer days, he has spent here… he could not say “No” to the kids in his swim lessons class that just wanted to slide with their Hero “one more time.” "Again?"

Last Friday Logan may have worked his last session of swim lessons. By this time next year, he’ll be a high school graduate and staring down big boy decisions and responsibilities. The job will be here if he wants it but I’m not counting on getting another season out of him.

He’s good.

No – he’s the best!

I’m his Boss at the pool and it’s hard to separate that to the point that I don’t have to because he sets the standard. Kids love him. Parents marvel at his patience and tenderness with kids of all ages. Don’t even get me started about how the ladies at evening Water Aerobics feel about him. The kid has just “got it”. And I am so stinking proud of him. It has been a joy to watch him work. To watch him use humor and quick whit to gain people’s trust. To watch him command respect through his assertiveness and decision making.

Last Friday Free Day, he passed out grade cards, treats and day passes with his chicken scratch handwriting on it and then he did what he does best. He played at the pool. His Level 1’s adored him. I don’t know how he did it, but each kid acted as if Logan was their personal attendant and entertainer for the 40 minute swim session. Up he went and down he came, a different kid in his lap each time. He laughed and giggled with each 5-, 6- and 7-year-old and shared in the smiles and joy that splashing in the water should bring children. When the older kids wanted to play basketball, he played. When one fella wanted Logan to launch him into the air again, Logan tossed him again and again and again.

There have been so many compliments shared with me over the last few weeks about our facility and the programs we run. And sure – there have been some complaints here and there but man, I am so stinking proud of our staff here – all of them. But allow me a minute to gush… Logan, it has been a privilege of mine to work with you!

If you’re ready to move on and work in the trades, do construction, mow lawns, go to college, military whatever….if you take the same work ethic that I see in you now – wherever you go, you’re going to be an impact because you give your best at everything that you do and you do it well.