Right before I turned seven, my parents had a pool put in the backyard. Every day of every summer for the next seven years was spent in or around that pool, from the moment we woke up until the minutes right before dinner. Our fingers and toes were constantly shriveled, and my hair was permanently green from the chlorine, but I didn’t care. The pool was heaven.
I don’t know if my parents realized just exactly how much the pool would get used, but they got a great return on their investment. They also got to host every kid in the neighborhood at least once a week, plus countless pool parties and birthday celebrations. I think that pool is squarely the reason why I love hosting parties – I grew up hosting people.
So many of my best summer memories involve that pool. Splashing with friends, having jump contests, endless games of Marco Polo. But my favorite times were after the sun went down. It was a rare and special treat when we’d be allowed to swim at night. There was just something about the way the pool looked all lit up, surrounded by the stillness of the evening. I loved laying on a float while I tried to count how many crickets were making music around me.
I told my mom a few weeks ago that I hoped we’d be able to bring Annabel to their house for a night swim. She loves swimming, but more than that, her imagination is so active that I knew she’d find the magic in swimming under the stars. Yesterday, everything worked out, and we brought Annie over to my parents’ house for dinner and swimming.
Right away, she started making up stories. She was flying, the water was the clouds, the pool light was the sun. She was a shark, or a dolphin, or a million other sea animals. I told her about the games her uncle and I played when we were younger. She wanted to hear about the birthday parties, and the other kids that grew up on the street. I told her we’d have jumping contests into the water, and she wanted to have one, too.
When it was time to get out, she didn’t want to. “Just five more minutes, Mama! Please! I’m not done with this story yet, the princess has to rescue the dolphin!”
I know she’s going to have her own memories and her own favorite stories to tell. I don’t know if night swimming with her parents will be a memory that rises to the top, but that’s okay. It will be for me.
ryan says:
I LOVE the story/memories. Annie is going to cherish these new experiences/memories too. On a side note. What camera do you use? I love your pics and am looking for an SLR or Digital SLR, and am curious
Jenn says:
That’s so ironic as my kids & I were just talking about this exact same thing!!! They think it’s so magical to take a late night swim too!! Looks like Annie loved it as much as my kids do!! I’m sure James will as well once he gets older.
Kim says:
My grandparents had a pool and some of my very favorite childhood memories surround that pool. When it was VERY dark, we would go skinny dipping Girls always got to go first. My Grandpa would turn out the lights (pool lights too) and we would run out and jump in. It was so much fun!!! After the girls were done all the boys got to go in.
I loved laying on the float during the day and listening to the wind chimes, playing with my brothers and sister, eating peanut butter toast, cheetos and root beer and then walking to DQ for ice cream.
Annie and James will have memories just like you do and when they are old, they will think fondly of those summers spent at their Grandparent’s pool. xoxo
Donna P says:
Magical!
Brooke says:
I also had a pool growing up and am smiling now thinking back on some of my own very similar memories. I remember the jumping contests into the pool well!
Although I also remember how I couldn’t eat ice cream cake for about 10 years because that was my mom’s go-to treat for pool parties – when you have it every weekend for years, it gets old after awhile!
Sara says:
We just put in an in-ground pool ourselves for our 4 kids. It was a LOT of work and a LOT of unexpected problems, but your post made me smile because all the work was so worth it! The kids (and the parents) love the pool! They just did their 1st night swim last night and I had to drag them out of it!
Glenda says:
Priceless memories that’s for sure!
Paula says:
That first shot is beyond beautiful. I love when I can take pictures that turn out as I see them. I am also glad that the memories Annie is making will be something she will pass on to her child(ren). She will tell them how grandma Heather did this and that.
Christina says:
YES! I have so many great memories of swimming in my grandma’s pool during holiday visits. All the cousins would swim, an aunt or uncle would get thrown in. We’d play games, swim late at night. So much fun. Then we had our own pool when I was in the 5th grade. Every birthday was a pool party. My best friend would walk to our place every day. We made up synchronized swimming routines, tried to do trick jumps, would order pizza or eat sub sandwiches for lunch, then swim until dark, and watch movies and fall asleep on the floor of my bedroom. Awesome days. My husband had a pool basketball hoop and he and his friends would do slam dunk competitions into the water. They’d also have fart contests but that wasn’t related to the pool. However, points for both contests were earned through creativity! I’m a lucky woman.
Jolene says:
Your last line just pulled at my heart strings (and managed to give me a lump in my throat). Simple words yet so touching. What a beautiful memory with your sweet Annabel.
Katrina says:
I had a pool growing up and loved it. Since I have a summer birthday, ALL of my birthday parties were pool parties!
Auntie_M says:
I love how you are not only an excellent memory keeper, but also a memory creator! What special, magical times, indeed!