The "My Life Flashing Before My Eyes" Story

1968 Millersville State Teachers College Dolphins Swim Club

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in my favorite lounge chair with my cat on my lap reading the local Sunday newspaper.  Checked out the local, national and sports sections and then found the section that had the articles titled "Lancaster That Was" and "Flashback Lancaster".  The former section is edited by Valerie Marschka while the latter is edited by Larry Alexander.  The "Lancaster That Was" always features a photograph that someone in the community mails to Valerie.  Most times they give some information about the photo, such as names of those pictured or what event it includes, then Valerie does some research of her own to write a story about the local photo.  Today's photo featured the Millersville State Teachers College Dolphin Swim Club which was a synchronized swimming club.  The club began in 1950 and used the swimming pool that was located in the building where the gym was located on the south-west side of campus.  In 1964 I was required to take a swimming class which was at 4:00 PM.  I often would arrive early, changed into my swimming trunks and sit and watch the Dolphins practice their routines.  Unbelievable what they could do, but the full, one-piece bathing suits they wore certainly didn't do much for me.  

Aerial view of Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant in southern Lancaster, PA

A story in today's "Flashback Lancas- ter" also caught my attention. Headlines  which were in the paper 25 years ago, 50 years ago, 75 years ago and 100 years ago are featured and highlighted.  The story that caught my attention was from 50 years ago.  Talked about a fire that struck the Peach Bottom, PA nuclear power plant on February 2, 1965.  It reported that officials assured the public that there was no danger of radioactivity as the fire was in an electric cable.  Then it struck me!  Wow, I remember that.  50 years ago.  Tough to realize that I actually remembered that fire.  What was even tougher to realize was that there was a nuclear power plant in Lancaster County 50 years ago.  Seems like just yesterday that nuclear power plants were built.  And you know what ...... 50 years ago was just yesterday ...... to me!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.