Thursday, August 13, 2009

Pool Toys

pool toy

I love pool toys floating around the pool.


Mr. Walrus is left over from the welcome home party.
He got much use; however, he is quite difficult to ride.
When the children were small, but not too small,
for I was terrified of them drowning, every summer
we would trek to the grocery store to purchase
large, colorful balls that were displayed in a tall wire bin.
Everyone would get a different color for easy identification.

We would have races in the pool, riding the beach balls
as if they were wild broncos, splashing and shouting
in the voice of Heimlich from A Bug's Life,
"I am a beautiful butterfly."
"But I AM flying."

The balls were left in the pool all summer
to float about on their own.
They would gather together in a little group
at the far end of the pool.
During storms they would chase about the pool the way
that horses run in a pasture when the wind picks up.

Some days I miss watching horses run,
hearing their whinnies,
feeling the pounding of their hooves
on the earth so hard that it would vibrate in my chest.
Some days I miss colorful balls floating in the pool.

This motherhood thing can be bittersweet.
Just when I get good at it,
they're all grown up.

Today Mr. Walrus makes me happy
with memories playing in my mind like an old movie.

Here's the best part:
I don't have to try to put him down for a nap.

34 comments:

Ces Adorio said...

Oh, you write so well. You are such a passionate woman and you don't even have to try, you are a natural.

Okay, you mental ninja. I agree with the parenting deal. But you can still enjoy them and you don't even have to give them any allowance.

Ces Adorio said...

Hey! You were in my blog while I was in yours. Oh that did not sound right.

Heheeh! You made me giggle with your comment. HA! You cheated. Putting non- before the words. Next time, I will have rules just for the wise ones like you!

Ces Adorio said...

Ah! You sure did! It's good to keep the html for the movie on a separate text editor or word document while you are still editing. That happens a lot to me too. No wrist splint yet but I think I will need to get one soon!

Ces Adorio said...

Ah Thank you. I love being the favorite of beautiful mental ninjas. What do you mean posting three times? I post, repost up to five times sometimes. Whose complaining? I'll kick their butts! HIYAH!

kj said...

deborah: here's the magic word:

grandchildren!

you'll get to do it all over again. tell mr. walrus to sit tight.

ps
"During storms they would chase about the pool the way
that horses run in a pasture when the wind picks up"

you are a joy to read. your great fonts and aizes only highlight the solid writing skill you have. combine that with your not-so-tough mush of a heart and folks, we have a writer!

still, deborah, i know that heart is longing today. blame it on love...

xo

Rhonda Roo said...

Aw. Aw now. D to the Dahling, you went and made me feel all gooey inside.
Really, a very sweet & lovely post.
Have you noticed that with you, dearest lovely, i tend to use the word lovely quite a bit?
It's all your fault.
I can't help it.
You're just so darn......wonderful.

x0x0x0x0x0x0x0 <---now with bigger hugs!!

Manon said...

kj is right ..... grandchildren will take care of that!
Love the post.... you are a fantastic writer my dear!!

Just A Girl said...

Oh Mr. Walrus is whooing my little heart to his darling blue self. Who could resist such a chubby little guy? Will you throw him a pool cookie for me?
xoxox Cori

Maithri said...

Theres such a tenderness in the way you write my friend...

Mr Walrus shines with the soft grace of lives well lived,

Much love,

M

MissBliss said...

i second the others... you are a joy to read... I have always loved floating pool toys, too... there is something poetic there!

Renee said...

Cheers to lovely memories around the pool.

Love Renee xoxo

Anonymous said...

when i was younger i loved pool parties! all the happy colorful blow-up toys :)
Mr Walrus is pretty cool!

kj said...

# 9 wants to visit # 26. and # 9 is craving mexican food.

when are you coming? i'm too excited to sit still.

:)

kj said...

boo hoo for now

xo

Ces Adorio said...

My dearest deborah you are the second person to say that to me. Of course the Bella said that to me when I insisted on knowing something, begging, pleading, charming, and finally resorting to kidnap and ransom notes. Hahaha! A very good friend of mine and relative advised me that the blogs are better for sharing positive thoughts and especially not for permanently printing cuss words, therefore I heed their advice and I had to modify. Sorry to let go of you thoughtful comment. I kept it in my Inbox though. Have a great weekend.

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

So so sweet! "just when I am getting good at it...they grow up"

When we moved into this house there was a huge killer whale in the pool...It was a windy day and he moved from one side to another. We had brought the dogs (Two huge great Danes) over, and went to retrieve more things. We came back to SUCH a raucous...each dog was at a different glass door howling and barking and protecting us from that scary scary thing with the big blue eye!! Soooo funny!

A Fanciful Twist said...

I WANT A POOOOL!! So Mister Warlus can come for a visit ;) This is the first time in my life, I have lived in a house with no pool. I MISS it! I do love my gypsy garden bath, but I can't do flips in it, although i try ;) xoxo

Memories brought back via Mister Walrus, so cute!!

Ces Adorio said...

Thank you for not chastising me! I'll remember you!

Sonya said...

Deborah,
You are a very talented writer and I am so glad I found your lovely blog!

Renee said...

I love you.

xoxo

Stella Dora von Swineburg said...

Beautiful pictures and we love your Tea Party Post and are glad 10ft. Alice got her rabbit!

Ces Adorio said...

Ack! Where are you? I need your help. If you were to choose sides between me and Renee, who would you choose? She is under the impression that you will choose her side! She is trippin'!

Ces Adorio said...

Well, Renee thinks that you are on her side always! I told her she is hallucinating! She is talking about angels and goddesses and she even pretended to be Bella on my blog!

Ces Adorio said...

NOOOOOO! She got to you already! Bella would never go to the woods. She is afraid of bears - Canadian Bears especially!

Ces Adorio said...

Yes, I do understand, even prodigal daughters need love!

Renee said...

Fantastic reply. Love it.

xoxoxo

Anonymous said...

I'm home. I love, love this post it mirrors so much of what I'm feeling today. I have fond memories of pool toys and noise echoing through the back yard. I love reading your memories and the feeling that I'm not alone. I missed you!
xo-jj

Renee said...

Deb can you imagine how many times that line has helped me.

Millions.

xoxoxo

Ces Adorio said...

Hello! So what are you up to now? :)

Tsup!

Ces Adorio said...

It is late for you. Ah that reminds me. Time to cook supper! Tsup!

Just A Girl said...

Mr. Walrus! Mr. Walrus! Can you come out and play?

Just A Girl said...

Darling Deb,

It seems that Ces and Renee have you stuck in the middle of a tug-of-war. I hope they don't tug too hard and did lodge your arm again. I'd hate to think you'd look like Woody ;-O!

Just A Girl said...

Daaaling Deborah,

I've left a very prestigious award for you on my blog. Please do drop by and pick it up.

Smooches!!!

Ces Adorio said...

Never! I would never disldge anything from my dear darling Deborah! Renee and I love her both very much except Deborah loves me even more than Renee and even Renee acknowledges that!

BTW, is there anything as a vibrating pool tool?