With summer
winding down, I think fondly of past summers... especially those as a small
child. I envision myself sunbathing on a cloudless day, drinking water from a warm garden hose, gently blowing dandelions in the breeze, counting clovers, looking for
that lucky one, catching fireflies in my hand, and of course going swimming. These
were just a few of my summer pastimes. We used to go to the beach by the Atlantic Ocean for vacations too. But, I also remember trips
to visit my aunt, uncle and cousin. I was mesmerized by the fact their entire
back yard was a giant, above ground swimming pool. It was really cool. I LOVED
it. So... when my mom and dad told me I was going to take swimming lessons... I
got excited. But only, briefly. You see... the instructor's way of teaching,
was to throw you in the deep end of the pool... and then pray... you'd quickly find
your sea legs. I was traumatized by this, and for a time, was scared of the
water. But once I gained confidence doing the doggie paddle... I was like a
fish, diving right in. My parents put up a neat, rectangular kiddie pool, at
home... for my brother and I to play in. Shallow as it was... I used to love
being in it. Lots of splashing and daydreaming about Olympic medals. From that
moment on... I swore I would someday have
a swimming pool, built in or not, in my backyard when I became an adult. But
sadly, it was not meant to be. Try as I might to convince my husband throughout
the years that this would be a practical idea... he politely told me a million
reasons why it wasn't. And that was that. No swimming pools of any kind, at my
house, period. When our children were little, we went to the beaches at local
lakes, instead. Because I am a plus size lady, now, in my old age... I am not
interested in the fat shaming I would endure... wearing a bathing suit... to go
there, or to a public pool, or a private swimming club. So I have taken 'swimming'
off my list of things to do, at this stage of my life. And have given up my
dream of ever owning a backyard pool. And I must say, it makes me a little sad.
But it is what it is. I had my days in the sun, once upon a time. Do you still
swim? Have you
ever had a pool in your backyard?
