SUMMER SIGHTS
The community swimming pool was busy, but not crowded! Beautiful !!
I was at the gym today. I had finished my workout, and was resting with a cup of tea. There were big chairs, and a HUGE plate glass window which overlooked the outdoor pool. There is a park-like setting beyond the pool — there were joggers and walkers on the paths. The pool itself was busy — with lots of people coming and going. There were family groups and teen groups in the pool, and some people sitting in lounge chairs around the edges. When I finished my tea, I went outside to enjoy the scene and the peaceful late-afternoon setting.
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It was really fun to watch the Moms and Dads playing with the little ones — showing them how to enjoy the pool experience, how to move safely and efficiently through the water. One Dad put a little guy on his back and swam around — this little boy will be ready soon to float and to swim; buoyancy is the name of that game! One man was swimming laps in a portion of the pool that was roped off for just that use. A woman was helping another woman [I assumed to be her Mother] to get in and out of the pool, and to walk through the water in the “shallow end” of the pool. I even saw a man I took to be a personal trainer working with a client on water activities; they had a routine that used a big floating ball, and another that used those foam “noodles.”
As parents watched and visited, the children formed play groups and had the best time — lots of splashing and squealing! And the play groups were totally diverse. Little ones do not see differences that most of us do; they just see smiles. And there is no need for language — just feel the fun!
The most striking thing about the summer pool sight was the mix of demographics. There were several, maybe many, ethnicities represented in the pool population. Also — different genders, a wide range of ages, and varying levels of fitness. Because bathing suits leave gaps in skin coverage, there were lots of tattoos in open view. And even the ink reflected a wide range of tastes and styles.
For a minute there at poolside I thought about how beautiful it would be if a very diverse population, that has to learn to get along somehow, could come together for summer relaxation and for pool time. Maybe we could learn to like each other a little more — to just see the smiles and feel the fun.
