The etymology of Rest Break

"If only there were a way for me to entertain my friends en masse via media accessible to any and all who wish to read. If only there were a way..."

-Jensy, March 2007

Rest Break is a term endeared to me by my first lifeguarding job at The Splash Club.*
Rest Break: a 10 minute period of rest deamed necessary for all swimmers, under 18 years of age, every hour on the hour by the lifeguards (and really, for the lifeguards, in order to goof off). The verbal expression, "Rest Break!" is commonly pronounced with force and volume. It is at times pronounced curtly, like a bark; sometimes it is drawn out with vocal modulation. This all depends on personal style and mood [pause from reading here and practice to hone in your personal style]. Henceforth, Rest Break has developed from a mere phrase to a practice, a method, an ethos, a way of life. Provocative, isn't it? Arcane in it's true origins, Rest Break is has been adopted as a reason for you, the reader, to take a break from your swimming to dry off, maybe grab a snack, and laugh with friends. Then, back in the water...

*As the name suggests, The Splash Club is more than your average outdoor pool located on the outskirts of a small town in Indiana. This pool was one of the last to maintain a High Dive higher than the depth of the pool. Sadly, the high dive has been removed, due to Regulatory Safety Laws but the memory lives on. The pool has also since changed names, but is still known as such by all who love it. Sometimes we just call it The Splish.