Florida Memories pg.4
Living a mile from the Ocean, and across the street from Lake Melba, my son Lee always had his swim trunks on. I do believe he was part fish. Lee was ready to go swimming anytime any one would take him. He never had to say, “I’ll go and get ready” – because no one had time to wait on a small child.
When Lee was around (2) years of age and I’m guessing – could have been younger, his friend Arthur down the street would take Lee across the street and they would get into one of the neighbor’s small boat’s. Arthur was about (3) years older and was more familiar with the neighbors and their boats and who would be home and so the two of them would get in to a boat and play like they were out on the “Ocean” and doing whatever kids do
One day, the boat became untied to the dock, and they drifted on to the center of Lake Melba, which is (70 feet) deep. I’m outside calling Lee to come home and not getting any response, start to walk closer to the edge of one of the neighbor ‘s backyard to see out on the “Lake” and I see a small boat – just floating. One of the neighbors came over where I was and said that she saw two small boys playing as they usually do – in and around that boat.
I ran back home across the street and called my husband Lee, Sr., told him I thought Little Lee was out on the “Lake” to come home immediately! In the 1960’s there were no “Cell Phones” so I had to wait patiently – while I was losing my mind!?
As soon as Lee Sr., got to the area where I was, he got permission to take out another neighbors boat with a friend, and immediately pulled up to where the bays were and brought the boats back safely. Little Lee was trying to tell all about the getting loose and how it was moving and they didn’t know how to get it back to the neighbor’s dock. We knew that we had to do something so that this would not happen again.
We knew Lee could swim but to be sure – we signed him up at the YMAC for swimming lessons – that was the best investment.
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