Each year as soon as the tax return arrives we join our outside pool.  We spend every free moment of summer at that pool.  We just love it. A friend had joined the pool the year before we did.  When Aaron was almost a year old we were ready for the pool and we went to see it in February.  First time I saw the place I fell in love.

The pool has three pools, four tennis courts, a basketball court, baseball diamond, volleyball courts and a children’s playground, a picnic grove with outdoor grilles and benches and green as far as the eye can see since the place is about thirteen acres.  If you want to play volleyball, basketball, badminton, ping pong, foosball,  paddle ball, or a board game they have everything on hand to lend.  Every afternoon in the summer they put out an arts and crafts project.  What is not to like!!

We have pool friends.  These are people we see in the summer and not at all in the winter but as soon as you step into the pool area you pick up exactly where you left off.  Just looking at all the green makes my heart soar.  Today Aaron had to visit each lifeguard, his old swim instructors, and his swim coaches. Ryan and his summer friends went off to swim and play the afternoon away.  Tomorrow it is going to be very hot so we are going to the pool early in the AM and we are going to bar b que and swim the day away. Both boys took the deep water test today to earn their “bands” so that they can go in any pool they choose whenever they choose.

So, if you live near Philly and want to see my pool (oh baby) you can.  Just visit the website and print out the free visit coupon! The only day this summer it is not valid is July 4th.  It is an amazing place with very cool laid back people.

When Ryan was born I went back to work when he was six weeks old.  My husband was unemployed and it was unavoidable.  We had just moved to a new house and a new neighborhood.  I had almost no Mom friends until Aaron was born.  Ryan by that time was 21 months old and extremely active.  I started taking him to a park that was a short car drive from my house.  There are closer parks but this park always had other kids playing.

One humid hot early Saturday morning when Aaron was three weeks old I walked into the park with Ryan.  On the bench sat three Mom’s who looked as tired as I felt.  I announced “I have a three-week old at home and I am actually out of the house”.  They all smiled and we chatted.  Over the next few months they became my lifeline.  I could show up at the park or somewhere and one of them would be there to be an adult with thoughts and ideas on Motherhood and other things.  We were all remarkably the same age, three of us have tattoos, and two of us have advanced degrees, and we are raising five boys all born within a three-year span.    I can’t imaging the first 18 months of Aaron’s life without these women.   When I went back to work in the fall after Aaron was born I missed them terribly.  They were ready and waiting for me when I quit my day job with a brunch playdate the first Monday morning I didn’t have to work.

Although we have not been as close I know at any moment we could call the other and the cavalry would be there to help out.  Early this spring one of us decided that a big move to a big state in the South was the next step for her family.

Last night all four of us grabbed a few beers and a bladder of wine (you had to be there) and plopped on our leaving friend’s porch.  It was such an interesting time.  No one held back and everyone spoke their mind.  There was laughter, there was tears, and good debate.    I have women friends who are complete different from each other but I rarely have a gang of women in my life who were my cohorts.  We were together during such an intense time in each others lives.  It was so fitting to just sit on the porch and chat as our goodbye to her.

Farewell friend.  You will be missed.  I hope the move is everything you dream of.

Hey better to blog at 11pm than not at all.  Had a farewell gathering for a friend who is leaving for Texas tonight.  It was illuminating as always. Too tired to tell more………