We had swimming pools in our backyard all through my childhood. My father would build them, digging big holes in the yard, pouring in sand over which he’d stretch layers and layers of heavy plastic lining, then putting up wooden walls, painting them blue and installing a drainage-filtration-pump system that he devised on his own.
It was the perfect way to provide entertainment for a crazy brood of hyper-active children while keeping us all within view and earshot.
I look back at it now and marvel that he had the energy and ingenuity to get it done mostly by himself (though my older brothers helped when they could).
It’s been years (decades?) since I’ve done any swimming, so when we showed up June first at the house we rented in Kapalua, I immediately plunged into the pool and would clamber out of it only long enough to eat and sleep and check up on the world through the eyes and ears of my laptop.
It took a few weeks to get back into the swing of extended swimming sessions. Initially, my joints groaned and my respiratory system wailed, but I was determined to find my way back to the blue liquid calm of my childhood, where I could hold my breath and slip beneath the water’s surface as time slowed to a crawl, my heartbeat thudding like a deep, slow drum in my ears.
Now it’s time to head back to Dallas. I’ll miss the brilliant Maui sunshine glancing off the water, the cool, stiff breezes, the sweet, humid air and the jaw-dropping scenery — but I’ll miss the swimming pool most of all.
{ 4 comments }
you know, i have never been interested in visiting hawaii, but there is something about that top photo that makes me want to see that view in person.
that pool is gorgeous, too. i would’ve stayed in it just like you did. we never had backyard pools growing up but neighbors and neighborhoods did – so i spent much of my childhood swimming. and like you, it’s been years since i swam. you may have inspired me. (p.s. – you look great!)
Ah yes, we had a lot of neighborhood kids joining us at our pool, too, though I had a lot of brothers and sisters so there often wasn’t too much extra room — but we packed ‘em in anyway!
Maui is my favorite island of the Hawaiian Islands, much more peaceful and laid back than Oahu. It’s all about the perfect weather and the stunning view instead of shopping, drinking, shopping and more drinking.
I lost six pounds just by swimming almost every day. I had hauled gym clothes along with me thinking I might go to a gym while here, but once I saw the pool, I forgot all about some stuffy building full of sweating humans.
*splash*
“So where did you go to do it, Nathan?”
“Do what, Scott?”
“Where did you go to make your DEAL WITH THE DEVIL so you wouldn’t age and always look awesome?”
And don’t gimme any of that “genetics and healthy diet” crap–anybody with above room temperature IQ could tell from your photo that you’ve obviously struck the same deal with Ol’ Scratch that Harrison Ford made!
*sigh*
Why, Scott — jealousy looks marvelous on you! You’re welcome to drop by and wear it as often as you like . . .