Time Warp Tuesday: Summers Past

This is a terrible picture from a technical standpoint, but it's what I was looking for from a memory standpoint. Remember, this was pre-digital, so we never knew what we got until we developed the film. Knowing a bit more about photography, it's pretty darn difficult to take decent photos in a pool--especially with a mix of full sun and full shade.

Scripps Ranch Swim and Racquet Club, circa 1995

Last week I posted the photo of the kids sitting under a tree, reading (kudos to Gary for noticing a not-yet-born child's absence). This week's photo is from the club where I started spending my summers from the time I was 12. It's kind of cool to have shared it with my own children.

A summer day for us when the kids were the ages they are in this pic would have been for us to hit the pool by 9 a.m., spend the morning, come home for lunch and naps, go back in the afternoon and have pizza on the pool deck with Mr. Fix-it joining us after work. We might not get home until it was time for bath and storytime (we did nightly baths as a matter of our evening routine--clean wasn't always the point).

Grownup Girl did a lot of summer camps, so there were many days I was on my own and I remember one memorable occasion from the very summer this photo was taken when I kept one hand resting on Social Butterfly's leg as she was mid-diaper-change on the lounge chair and stretched the other just in time to snag the ankle of a pool-bound Danger Boy just before he hit the water. 

Of course, there were other mothers and families who spent their days the same way we did (and I am in awe of the privilege this was for us all), so there was always conversation and camaraderie and adult beverages once in a while. Even for a mom, summer had a magical cast. Until the last two weeks when you weren't sure you had what it took to get to the back-to-school-day-summer-finish-line.

Sunday, Mr. Fix-it and I had a friend of mine and her daughter over for swimming and dinner and a game of Apples-to-Apples. For the first time this summer, I sat on the deck of the pool where I used to be a fixture. It was a sweet life. Not that I'd still want to be doing it, but it is fun to contemplate being an occasional visitor in that world--I would love for a third generation to grow up swimming there. 

I'm gearing up for a short, but very busy, work week after a great last-one-of-summer weekend. A concert in a friend's backyard--Steve Poltz; sooo much fun and a wee bit overly-drinky, the movie Elyseum on Saturday, the aforementioned pool and BBQ, and kayaking in the Big Bay today. And STILL I had time to watch most of Season 2 of Brothers and Sisters. Tonight it's homemade chocolate chip cookies and Breaking Bad. Mr. Fix-it is staying in San Diego for a work week for the first time in several weeks, and that's a nice change.

I'm still about six weeks from being able to pull out boots and tights weather wise, but it's beginning to feel like another changing season.

Be sure to visit Karen, Heidi and Susan to check out their Time Warp posts for this week.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Common Household Mom]

Great memories! School has already started here, and I'm still not sure I have what it takes to get to that end-of-summer finish line.

[Cassi]

Although it's a lot of maintenance, getting a pool was one of the best investments we made for Emma's childhood. Summers are so much better because of it, and I think it's absolutely the best summer entertainment for kids. Now that she's a bit older, I don't have to be in the pool the whole time, which makes the whole thing even more relaxing.

[Green Girl in Wisconsin]

We love our pool, but I always thought it would be cool to join a pool club just once...because I read about it in a Judy Blume book, of course!
It's funny how I grew up a lake girl, but I became a pool lady.

[Jen]

I really don't know how you did it?! Four kids of varying ages at the pool by yourself?! I sometimes have difficulty with one.

[Smalltown Me]

A great picture to wind up the summer!

[Busy Bee Suz]

What wonderful and sweet memories! Your weekend sounds just perfect too; enjoy your time with the Mr.

[Brightside-Susan]

I had a lot of years with a club membership - we did swim lessons in the mornings and then went back for most afternoons, too. I agree that it was a golden time and I was lucky to have had it with the kids.

[Becky]

There's no way you're going to be wearing boots and tights in six weeks, well, maybe with a sleeveless shirt, but it's a nice thought. Maybe around December-January. Ha!

Happy First Week of School! :-)

[Jocelyn]

I don't know why it is, but I never before pictured you taking kids to the club pool--and twice a day, no less. It all is just lovely, like a program I'd be happy to watch on tv. Life adventures played out with the backdrop of a pool

[music]

Hi there! This post couldn't be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept preaching about this. I'll send this post to him. Pretty sure he'll have a great read. I appreciate you for sharing!