On our very last day, I counted down the remaining hours of sun time and fun time. I began floating on my back. With my ears submerged in warm, chlorinated water, I could hear the peaceful sound of nothingness beneath me. A feeling of calm came over me and with eyes tightly shut, I remembered my summers growing up on Long Island.
My family had an in-ground pool, which was a rare thing in our neighborhood. The pool came with our house when my folks purchased it in 1978 and it was the highlight of my childhood summers. Our pool set the backdrop for dozens of family photos, events, summer romance and many a college party while my parents were away on their countless vacations.
8th grade Catholic school graduation, pool cover off, not yet ready for swimming.
As a child, I'd swim and float for hours. I hated to break for lunch because Mom would insist on making us wait after eating for fear we'd fall fall victim to the infamous Charley Horse. Whatever the heck that meant.
As a kid, I would tell everyone about our pool and try to bribe the other children to stop by and swim at our house. It's funny to think that even at age 10, I must not have had a positive self-image. I felt the only way anyone would want to play with me, was if I offered up our family pool. "Wanna swim in my pool? We have an in-ground pool!" I'd exclaim to anyone and everyone at dance class, soccer club and school.
Today Mom's pool is covered up and has been out of commission for several years following a bad storm. Every year, I beg my mom to repair it, even offering to split the costs. She has since joined a local pool and prefers a more maintenance-free lifestyle.Without our pool, summer has never been the same.
34 comments:
I would love to swim in your pool!
When I lived with my grandparents they had an in-ground pool. I know exactly what you mean about the floating. If was so glorious. Aww you should totally get your mom to repair it!! THink of the money you'd save going to the community pool!!! I wish I could swim right now!
Yeah, let me just get my swim trunks, and I'll hop on the next LIRR train and meet you there.
we didn't get a pool till I was a little older, I think I must have been in highschool at the time. It was above ground, but better than nothing.
It was my key to popularity. I invited everyone and anyone over for pool parties every single weekend.
I tried not to think about what would happen when fall came and the pool was closed. I didn't care, b/c in the summer for those 2 glorious months I was popular.
I'm 27 years old, and I still try to use that tactic. Since college my parents have gotten a newer bigger better pool with a deck. I don't even live at home anymore and I still offer up the pool to new friends... So, Ally whenever you're on long island, you are more than welcome to come swim in my parents pool.
Pools are more trouble than they are worth. Wish we would have filled ours in last year, instead of getting it repaired. But, the grandkids do love it.
there was only one family in our neighborhood that had a pool. They didn't have pool parties very often, but when they did, we had a blast swimming and playing in the water.
I would've definitely taken you up on the offer to swim in your pool!
My grandparents had a pool..it was awesome. I wish I had one to swim in now.
I loved having a pool growing up as a kid but in the teen years I grew to hate it. Now I wouldn't mind it as much.
I loved our family pool when we were growing up, it always seemed like we had longer hotter summers back then. My Birthday's in June and I always had a pool party and all the local kids used to be over all the time, good times. xx
That's a sweet memory. We have a pool in this house, but my girls are too young to be inviting friends over. We'll see as they get older.
I would be that kid that would hint* around to go and swim in someone's pool during the summer! I would even "accidently" throw a ball over the privacy fence of our neighbors, just so they would ask me to swim in their pool!
You were totally the COOL kid on your block!
We had a pool too! We were very lucky, we loved it, especially night swimming.
But I was the one who had to clean it.
We had a pool too! I miss it SO much sometimes! There is nothing like a whiff of chlorine to bring me back in time to the days when I didn't have to use a public pool. I remember when my parents divorced and we moved. My mom signed us up for the swim club in our new neighborhood and I refused to go in the pool. haha I was appalled that she would even suggest such a thing. haha What a spoiled brat.
I was fortunate to live at a house with a pool. I did live in a town house complex that had pool, and spent as much time as I could there that year. Then we moved again. The next 5 years, I spent as much time as I could at the beach. I miss a nice ocean beach. Haven't seen one in 16 years :( (not as fond a lake beaches, everyone I've been too had a strong odor of dead fish).
We never had a swimming pool....far too cold in England! But there is a gorgeous indoor/outdoor one near by, and it is fantastic just to sit there on the rare hot days that we are lucky enough to have....and maybe dip a toe in once in a while!
I think we usually get one really hot day, and that is about 22nd August! Lol!!!
Well, sad to hear about the pool...but at least you won't have any more horses in there...Charley that is.
My siblings and I were obsessed with pools when we were little. We never had one growing up, and anyone that had one, automatically became our friend lol We even used to fill up large plastic bins that you use for storage , with water and play in those. :(
I wanna swim, too!
Some of my best summertime memories happened at my aunt & uncle's in-ground pool!! Nothing like it.
I love the idea but it is far too much work for me. If I could hire a pool boy I am sure I could get more on board with the idea. But then again I have a paranoid personality and I would be on edge all the time that someone might drown!
this is just too funny, how you speak of being 10 years old and trying to bribe the kids to come over and swim in your pool. i think this is just a natural kid thing.... or else my daughter is highly insecure as well.... she does the same thing, minus the pool invite, but for something like new toys.... even since we moved into a house.... she thinks she just might be the only one with a house (or she's just overly excited that she actually has a place to play and ride bikes and such.... ) either way, i can totally relate to this.... although i don't remember doing this, i am VERY familiar with it now and am CERTAIN i did it at some point.... (i think i did this when we got a dog).... =)
are there any pools where you are now that you could enjoy??
You had a POOL?! I so would have been your best friend.
I so would have been your friend! I love to swim, pools, lakes. oceans, I am not particular :) I grew up going to the lake for the summer and now we don't have one and I insanely miss it!
Lucky you to have grown up with one!
I always wanted a pool when I was a kid. I had to settle for creeks and lakes and rivers. And they all had 'things' in them.
*Sigh* I hate 'things.'
What an incredible memory. Thanks for sharing. Following from Friday follow! Have a great weekend!!
Awww... I grew up with a pool also and I have to say that most of my childhood memories revolved around that pool. Great post, Ally. Gets me all nostalgic.
I can't remember the last time I swam in a pool, sounds like fun! Happy Friday Follow, I am a new follower. So glad to have found your great blog. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Eloise
Mommy2TwoGirls
http://mommy2twogirls.blogspot.com/
I was so jealous of the kids who had in-ground pools. One girl was a real beyotch about hers, too. She would always insist on skinny dipping so she could compare her breasts to everyone else's. "Yours are nice but mine are so perky". She was henceforth known as Perky Tits or PT, for short.
I'm following you back from Friday FF! Have a great day!
My friends all had pools but we never did. We used to run through the sprinkler to cool off. My dad slipped and sprained his foot once.
I wanna swim in your pool! (for the record, I'd also wanna hang out with you even if you didn't have a pool)
Ah, summer, pools....delicious. I love how you relive your childhood memories here. Seems it would be very therapeutic.
We have an above ground pool and there is a girl who comes over with her brothers in their suits univited wanting to be my daughter's BFF because of the pool!
Sorry we are closed for the day!
My family got a pool when we moved to So. Cal. when I was 13.... It was great for the summer.... We have a pool at our apartment complex, but it's not the same....
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