We made out first trip of the season to the pool this weekend. We swim at the Trinity University pool, as a faculty family we swim for free. At one point last summer after The Kid attended a party at the fancy, expensive neighborhood pool, we considered saving up for a membership and joining ourselves this summer. I thought it would be a great way for The Kid to see and keep in touch with some of his school friends over the summer.
That was before I spent the school year in utter shock at some of the bad parenting on parade in The Kid's first grade class. Violent adult video games and guns and "Iraqs".
I'm glad we didn't join the pool. I'm glad that The Kid will see his friends this summer on play dates at out house or the park where there'll be no R rated movies or Halo 3. I'm glad that I won't have to spend the summer comparing myself to the made up, put together uber-moms of the fancy pool. I look like a forty six year old woman in my swim suit. A forty six year old woman who likes to cook, likes to eat, hates to say no to a glass of wine. A forty six year old woman who nursed her child for a long, long time. A forty six year old woman who spent her youth on her feet, waitressing, whose knees have seen better days. I love swimming in the summer and don't want to waste my time feeling self-conscious about my unshaved legs or the size of my belly.
I love the Trinity pool with it's steamy dressing room, it's wall of granite facing the pool. I love the academics swimming long slow laps in the afternoon sun. I love the college student lifeguards. I love the geeky kids of academics with their ill-fitting suits and goggles. Most of all, I love the slightly chubby, pasty academics in their good coverage suits. I love that the person sitting next to me will be reading Proust, or the NY Times. I love being in the company of these parents who watch their kids and call out encouragement while glancing up from their books. I love that the small talk is of politics and peace.
Yes, this is the pool for me – the pool where I belong. Our first trip of the year was great, even though I forgot The Kid's goggles and the camera and a bra to wear home. Nothing like jiggling past the Vice President for Academic Affairs to start your summer off with a bang!
*photo credit: Chris Jennings / www.pagetoscreen.net
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Now I might actually put on a suit and come over to the Trinity pool. Pasty academics are usually a pretty forgiving lot.
ReplyDeleteWell, you are always welcome - I'll save you a lounge chair in the shade!
ReplyDeleteSounds like my kind of pool...and I haven't actually been near one since 1993...
ReplyDeleteYou sound like my kind of woman--if only the cool bloggers didn't live oh so far away...
Oh, Karen. You have to find a pool or you may not survive the summer!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
I must recommend finding Rich Friends With Pools to Karen. Two of my boys' friends' families put in pools a few months ago. I wish that I wasn't so self-conscious about hanging out in anything but jeans and a shirt. At least I don't have to go to the Skinny-Bitch-Desperate-Housewives' pool this summer.
ReplyDeleteThat faculty pool sounds fine. I am less self-conscious about them academic-types catching my brain showing than my big ol' white thighs. I mean, as long as I wouldn't have to talk to anyone. :I
Bless you for this. The Matron is a 45 year old woman who also looks like she breastfed three babies a long long time (each). She would not enjoy swimsuit comparisons either, and she is skinny. But even size 2 jeans heading into their fifties look worn.
ReplyDeleteKaren, oh the pool academics would love you!
ReplyDeleteAnd you are welcome too Matron. We will not hold your skinnyness against you. All shapes and sizes are welcome at the pool.
I think I may start a campaign to take back the pool for normal sized women this summer. We all deserve to float in the water and feel the sun and the breeze on our skin!
I'll be joining you at the pool with the academics. That, or the pool in the hood with my friend sozzled. The pool here in my mostly pretentious suburb is far to chi chi for the hippy potter. Especially this year when I believe I will be joining my Grandmother's club of the swim skirt wearers.
ReplyDeleteWell,you and your swim skirt would fit right in at the pool!
ReplyDeleteSounds like my kind of pool! Have fun this summer.
ReplyDeleteWe will! Hope you have a lovely summer too...
ReplyDelete