Pool Time

Several years ago for 3 lovely summers we had a swimming pool. You know, one of those huge blue rubber things that seem to defy gravity. It was a decent size for us at 18 feet across and 4 feet deep; plenty of room for a couple floats and paddling around.

We spent a large majority of summer outdoor time just floating around out there reading and soaking up the sun. We had a lot of fun in that pool and there may or may not have been some late night skinny-dipping involved too.

A loved that pool and it was her summer hobby. She kept it spotlessly clean and the water was always that perfect crystal blue. She vacuumed, changed filters, checked the pH and carefully adjusted the chemicals. Mid summer of its 3rd year she discovered a small leak at one seam. She patched it and said that fall we would buy a new one. In August she herniated a disc in her back and had surgery. That meant no more pool time for her the rest of the summer and all the maintenance fell to me. That fall we started an addition to our house that took up some of the backyard. My brother helped me take down the pool for the last time.

We hung out around home the entire 4th of July weekend and all A talked about was how much she missed her pool. "Babe, maybe we should get a new one." I tried to be the voice of reason; "We don't have a flat sunny spot in the yard anymore." and "Don't you remember how much work it was?"
After 5 days listening to her talk about nothing else and being told several times "I would love to have that for my birthday" I finally caved and picked up a new swimming pool for A's birthday gift.

Now maybe I can get some peace and quiet. Happy 49th Birthday Baby!