Summary

“Memory Laps” - The author describes how, when he turned fifty, he rediscovered swimming, an activity he participated in when he was younger. He describes how he took swimming lessons and swam competitively at the Raleigh Country Club, where his parents were members; where the staff was all black; and where he was referred to as Mr. Sedaris while members of the adult black staff were referred to by their first names. He describes his intense dislike of competitive swimming; how he was glad to give other children the joy of winning (because all he felt at the end of a race, win or lose, was relief that it was over); and how his father became obsessed with the accomplishments of another young swimmer, Greg Sekas.

The author describes how, over the course of one particular summer, he felt increasingly angry at the...