Watching our 4-year-old granddaughter graduate from a flotation belt to inflatable arm bands to now standing up and swimming in the shallow end of the pool this summer has opened my eyes to how important it is to learn how to swim — especially living on the coast of Maine.

I've had relatives and have known people who never learned how to swim. It's a scary thought considering swimming is a regular summertime activity, right up there with boating.

We are fortunate to have the YMCA pool where hundreds upon hundreds of kids have learned how to swim in its year-round programs. Growing up in the 1960s (pre-Y pool), my brothers and sisters learned how to swim at various locations in the region — in the inner harbor, at what is now Barrett's Park, the Surfside pool in West Boothbay Harbor, Hendricks Head Beach, Damariscotta Lake, etc. I have a photo on my office bulletin board of my Mom with five of us seven Burnhams — along with two of our three Lorrain cousins and Aunt Jan — which shows us enjoying a day at Hendricks Head. Brother Glenn and cousin Dave were infants in the photo but I am sure Mom and Aunt Jan were probably "Nervous Nellies" that day making sure the six others were safe around the water.

It is never too late to learn how to swim. There are classes at the YMCA and private instructors available. Learning how to swim is an important skill to learn.

And remember, if you are not a strong swimmer — and our 4-year-old granddaughter is yet to be one — be sure to wear a flotation device when you're in the ocean or in area ponds, especially if you're out in a boat. Swimming in a private pool is much different than swimming in the ocean or pond.