You were you are
The Hong Kong Mantas Invitational swim meet has been going strong for the past 33 years. Age-group swimming clubs from all over Asia, Australia, even all the way from the UK have participated. With at least ten swimming teams joining each year, the Philippines is consistently the most represented country.
I remember my first HK Mantas meet way back in 1978. One would think a swim meet is a swim meet. But each time is different, especially since I go into them a different person too – not just in age or weight, but in what life has added through the years.
My favorite memories from the Mantas meet are (in no particular order of preference): in 1994, I went as a coach yet I also competed, and to my delight I won the most outstanding swimmer award; in 2008, our girls relay team (our team is called the Corinthian Ducks) surprised everyone and won the gold in the 200-meter stair-step medley relay; also in 2008, Corinthian Ducks swimmer Sofia Guanio, 10-years old then, won 10-for-10 gold medals, breaking one meet record (50-meter breaststroke :39.14); and in 1982, I will never forget the tonnage of fried rice we ate for each meal.
You should read Shakespeare’s sonnets in chronological order, starting with No. 1. His theme for the first two dozen sonnets or so is to leave a legacy through one’s own children. For example an excerpt from Sonnet No. 6:
If ten of thine ten times refigured thee:
Then what could death do if thou shouldst depart,
Leaving thee living in posterity?
Be not self-willed, for thou art much too fair
To be death's conquest and make worms thine heir.
I would very much like that one day my children (and grandchildren!) will compete and enjoy the annual Mantas meet. I hope I won’t be a stage dad, but I can already see myself being too proud. Seriously, here’s hoping that the Wrights (an English family firmly rooted in Hong Kong) sustains the Mantas tradition. Since the event is organized so well, and all the participants reap so much (kids gain new friends, learn courage, feel humbled yet develop self-confidence, plus the parents have fun too), I am certain this event will keep on going and going – thus, old memories become immortal through the “same” experiences of the new.
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