A New Season

Goodness, this summer was dry and hot! We made best use of an August pool membership. The kids were swimming laps all the way into September. They all took swimming lessons, and made progress in their own ways. Our oldest discovered that freestyle swimming yields a cardiovascular workout similar to running. Our seven year old gained the freedom of the diving board. My goodness, those kids jumped into the pool for hours! Our youngest slowly learned how to float on his back. Even I was able to take time to enjoy swimming in the lap lane. Using my set of fins made for a very efficient workout.

Just as much fun as swimming was the companionship of meeting friends at the pool for dinner. It was all so spur of the moment, and yet it became a routine very quickly and without much effort. We would confirm the meeting time and what food we would bring to share. We just used what we had at hand, and so meals like watermelon, sandwiches and pretzels became standard fare. That pool membership was the best hundred dollars I spent all summer.

The weather is turning cooler. Autumn is here, indeed. The leaves are changing colors, and there are grey and rainy days more often. Soccer season is upon us. It is a time of keeping to a schedule of practices, games and recovery. Our daughter has been playing since kindergarden, and it has become a very important part of her life. She expresses a focused intensity out there on the field, and really grows in her strategy and skill every season.

Our seven year old joined a local team this year as well. On the morning of the first game, her advice to him was this: "OK, you gotta go out there and play your hardest, every time. Don't give up, keep on it. Play your best, all the time, every game!" Yes, that pretty much sums up how she plays.

We've been plugging away at various tasks involving firewood and fence repair. There's talk of building a simple structure to house the family bicycles. Piles of weed debris are slowing 'melting', as our four year old describes it. The backyard is looking nice, and at times it feels even more comfortable to sit there than in the living room. Family living can be hectic and loud and boisterous. I'm getting better hiding at my desk, playing ninja, staying current with record keeping tasks and such. Still, the outdoors never ceases to humble and amaze me.