I miss
our pool.
When we
built our house in San Antonio, we put in a pool. It wasn’t part of the plan. It wasn’t even a plan for “some day.” But somehow, we ended up with one.
I
wanted a water feature. I wanted the
calming tinkle-tinkle-tinkle of a gentle fountain. So we met with the guy doing the patio and
the landscaping to discuss a water feature.
The conversation grew grander and suddenly, for just a few dollars more,
we were envisioning a swimming pool in our new backyard.
I
agonized over this decision, even after it was made. I especially feared we wouldn’t use it enough
to warrant the addition, especially since I can’t swim – never have. I float all right. I enjoy getting wet. That’s about it. It seemed an outrageous extravagance, but if
there was ever a city to have a pool in, San Antonio seemed to be it.
Even
the prospect of caring for the pool didn’t sway us. Immediately, we signed up for Pool
School. Our pool company would send
someone to our home to teach us how to care for our pool.
The
pool became salvation during the weeks while we waited for our belongings. We had no television, no games, no books, not
even clothes to hang in the closets; but, we were amused by the pool. John built boats out of milk jugs. We floated and smiled (when smiles were hard
to come by.)

He complained
about replacing his cell phone every couple of months, because the phones kept
falling into pools. This comment was
made as he slipped his current phone into the breast pocket of his shirt and
bent over the pool to pull the Polaris from its depths. I held my breath; sure another phone was on
its way into the brink. When Tom finally
made his departure, we watched him go with dropped jaws, berating one another in
quiet tones for not having taken a photo of this character. (I hope my description does him justice.)
Despite dubious care instruction, we've managed to maintain and enjoy the pool. Now we miss it.
Like
the rest of the country, San Antonio is having the coldest winter in recent
history. Too cool for a dip. But gentle sprays continue to break the
placid water and I am reminded that summer will eventually return.
No comments:
Post a Comment