Recently my two sisters and I were reminiscing about a visit in the late 50’s to our Uncle George’s private swim club in New Jersey. The reason we even remember this day at all is that we were thrown out of the swimming pool for wearing two-piece bathing suits. My uncle’s family was very conservative and so was the club.
We all remembered that we went to the club for a picnic that day with our parents—the first time we were invited there by my father’s brother. That part we agreed on.
Mary said we were wearing bikinis that day, and she was sure of this. She also remembered that our father was disgruntled because they didn’t have beer for him at the picnic. Everyone knew he was a beer drinker.
“Uncle George’s sons weren’t very friendly that day,” said Mary. “I guess they were warned about their whorish cousins.”
My sister Laura argued that we were not wearing bikinis, just ordinary, tasteful two-piece suits. “That’s what was so outrageous about it,” she added.
Laura also remembered that our friend Suzy was with us that day. “No,” said Mary, “I’m sure Suzy wasn’t there.”
When my sisters asked me about my memory of the event, I agreed with Mary that friend Suzy was not there.
“I don’t remember if we were wearing bikinis or ordinary two-piece suits,” I said, “but I do remember that I had Blixy with me. She was maybe a year old and wanted to go in the pool. I had to wear a t-shirt over my suit in order take her into the water.”
“Oh,” said Mary, surprised. “I thought we were younger when this happened.”
Of course we were younger. When I thought about it again, I realized that after Blixy was born and I brought her back from California when she was nine months old, Laura was living in New York City and Mary was still in California. There was no way we could have all been at the pool together.
“I guess I have things mixed up,” I said, “but I remember so clearly having to wear a t-shirt over my swimsuit in order to take Blixy in the water.”
I can still feel the wet t-shirt clinging to my body, the joyful squirming weight of Blixy in my arms.
Finally, Laura got our friend Suzy into the mix: “Do you remember going to my Uncle George’s pool,” she asked, “and being thrown out because we wore two-piece suits?”
“Yes,” said Suzy, “and that’s what they were—two piece suits and not even bikinis!”