I sit down to write this post only to find I that don’t have much of an inkling where things might go when it comes to transformation…and thus find myself toying with the notion of heading over to Spotify and making a playlist of songs about time passing in lieu of actually writing something. But that would be cheating, I think. Right?
There are pros and cons to everything, and this weekly “theme” thing is no exception—sometimes it writes itself, other times I feel like I’m stuffing 10 pounds into a five-pound package, and other times still it’s like I’m trying to jam a very large square peg into a pin hole. Such is life, I suppose…
Change is a constant, transformation is optional. Sure, a lot has happened since last Monday…right? But anything big? Or good? Or lasting?
Think.
Think.
Think.
🤦🏼♀️
THINK.
(No pressure.)
Ah. Got it. Since we last “visited” on May 16, two “big” things have happened. The pool was opened for the season and I turned 55. So let’s put those two events under a microscope and see what a closer look at them reveals…
We’ll start with the pool, because that happened first, last Wednesday. When you own a pool, it’s a big deal when the cover comes off—it’s about so much more than Summer…or swimming. How did the water fare over the winter? Can you see the drain or does it look radioactive? How did the pool itself fare over the winter? Any leaks, cracks, or malfunctioning equipment? It’s stressful and nerve-wracking. When the cover is peeled back, it’s about so much more than summer, or swimming. And this year, well, the big reveal revealed that ours looked radioactive…and then not long after we could see the swamp was draining…we had a leak. But with lots of chlorine and patience and hard work by Kerri, we can see the drain and the leak is fixed…and after only five days. Brilliant!
The yard looks and feels so much nicer/better when the pool is up and running. It’s prettier. More Zen-like. And the filter provides some oddly soothing white noise…when it’s not triggering the “cha-ching” sound effect in my head, as I imagine someone at the electric company counting the money from our excessive (but necessary) equipment use.
When the pool comes back to life each year, it’s a physical and visual reminder for us of the passage of time, the turning of the seasons…the Earth spins on its axis and it rotates around the sun and here were are…another year, another pool season. Owning a pool is one of the greatest most pain-in-the-ass things imaginable. 🤣🤣🤣
Party time.
In another of life’s “mile markers” I celebrated Double Nickels (Saturday) with an interesting (and odd?) combination of fun, disbelief, dread, happiness, and extreme congestion (but not COVID).
Drum roll…I’m officially entitled to the Senior Discount at Dunkin Donuts.
So there’s that.
We went to the Red Sox Friday with my sis and bro-in-law. We saw a big win (7-3) thanks to a grand slam and a 3-run homer. The night could not have been better weather- or game- or company-wise. Ever since Springy and Papa gave me the ticket to the Sox game for my 7th birthday in 1974, I’ve been a bit of a junkie. No beer tastes as good as a ballpark beer! (And no, I don’t care that it’s “expensive.” Everything is relative. Right?)
Saturday started like much like a normal one, with a leisurely few cups of coffee and a trip to the gym, then quickly turned festive as we shopped and prepped for guests…much to my joy all three of my local adult nephews/nieces were part of the festivities…an exceedingly nice touch. The Mud Pie my mom made didn’t hurt either. It was a great day, congestion notwithstanding. (I swabbed my nostrils in the morning to be on the safe side…while I was sure it was allergies, with guests coming I needed to be sure sure. What a high-stress 15 minutes…I can’t imagine a pregnancy test! Perish the thought!)
Even with all that pool and old-age angst and with the COVID test thrown in for good measure, I’m happy to say that the more things change, the more they also stay the same. For example, I have one old and dear friend who never fails to send me a fantastic birthday package and this year was no exception…and the card, well…an absolute killer!
On the home front we’re both taking advantage of the Memorial Day holiday and taking Friday off to make it an extra-long annual pilgimage to New Hampshire…it’s nice to have ritual and routine to provide comfort and fun (and to keep our livers active).
As I wrap up today I’m thinking about a quote I read recently (from Abigail Thomas, whoever the hell that is): “Good things happen slowly and bad things happen fast.” I reflect on these words relative to these milestones, to these marks on the yardstick of my existence..I find myself thinking of all the life and all the living that has taken place in between them…and I can’t help but smile. Sure I could choose to worry about things I can’t control (like the pool plumbing or getting old) or I can just rip off the bandage, see what lies beneath, and stare down whatever looks back at me like a champ.
So here I sit, staring. Wondering what comes next, certain that it will be some mixture of awesome, awful, and amazing. 😉
Thanks for being here. I appreciate you, always. Have a great long weekend…and watch out for those monkeypox.
Love you too.
I’ve never done any pool maintenance in my life and found that section delightful. Happy belated, Nicole. Nice work.
Such a great read! Love that final quote!