Laureen Lund
LAUREEN LUND, YMCA MEMBER
I grew up in Bremerton in the 60’s. Bremerton was a town with a nice community feel. We spent our free time riding bikes, playing at the school playground and watching Peewee football. We built forts and tree houses and walked for miles around town without every feeling unsafe. We had a roller skating rink where we would gather. That was where we could share a soda with a boy or have a birthday party with our friends. We could go to the “double feature” at either the Admiral or the Roxy Theaters on Saturday for a quarter. It was a fun place to grow up.
But one of my fondest memories about growing up in Bremerton is the old YMCA that stood next to the ferry terminal downtown. Before Kitsap County had any malls, downtown Bremerton was a wonderful gathering place for both shopping and socializing. The YMCA was where families gathered. I learned to swim in that pool, beginning as a Pollywog and going up to a Fish. I aspired to be a Flying Fish one day, but, alas, I ended at Fish. My sister and I also took gymnastics at the Y in the summer. It was a great program for a chubby little girl to be active. I also remember many, many Friday nights spent at “family swim”, both with my own family and also with my friend Margie. Her family was very active in the Y and I always tagged along. It was that kind of place where everyone was welcome.
Later when my family moved to Silverdale we were no longer Y members but I took with me what I had learned in swimming and gymnastics to our new home and school. This is why I became a charter member of the Gig Harbor YMCA when they opened, ready to build more memories as part of the Y family.
