[Lap Counter]

To me, the 4th of July is not just Independence Day but a remembrance of the classic mid-summer Speedo Fest I remember from my youth.

I swam for our community center swim team, so was at the pool bright and early for practice. After practice, the pool would host lessons for a couple hours, then open to all. It became our custom to go eat a massive breakfast during lesson time, then go back and hang out the rest of the day. Most of the guys would wear our nylon team Speedos. We rationalized that we did so because those 2 ounces of nylon dried practically instantly, but realistically we used the excuse to show off our teen bulges and develop perfect Speedo tanlines. A dork shorts tanline looks gross when you’re wearing a Speedo!