This weekend begins the long-awaited opening of community pools for children and families across the country. When we lived in the Park Cities in Texas, our family would make it an event to get our passes the week before and be at the pool on opening day. One year Bobby went on crutches due to an upcoming surgery to secure these passes. There was no talking him out of waiting. Pools provided hours of fun for us and many priceless memories. It was a highlight when we stayed until the light in the deep end came on. The world was perfect for Sara and so was perfect for us. Simple pleasures indeed.

Bobby and I were both required by Sara at sometime over the summer to jump from the high board.
That was something I just wanted to get over as quickly as possible. The long climb up the ladder and the knees shaking as I walked that long plank over the water seemed like an eternity. I think I may have even held my nose! Bobby had more of a finesse to his performance on the high board.
He just ran and jumped. We made our daughter happy. We had fun being silly. What could be sweeter than that?

In this image our girl and Sara and Chris’s lab enjoyed their first water time together. Our girl had a few summers of experience so she had the retrieval of the float down to an art. Mr. Miles reticently took to it but would let our girl do the work. She would get it close to shore and he would jump in and snatch it away. Well this did not go well after a few times and our girl brought as much closure to this nascent activity by Miles as best she could. We’ll see how it goes this summer.

Family rituals that strengthen bonds are important. Children love the anticipation and adults like the fun of sharing a fun event with the children. I am grateful.

Peace.