Cure For The Summertime Blues

Wednesday

It was a good thing Mark had today off before heading back for a heavy three weeks at work. Sherry is still in quite a bit of discomfort when moving around, and nowhere near ready to attempt driving yet. So, Mark dropped Sherry off at New World to replenish our pantry (she prefers shopping alone), then took Ro for a play at his school nearby. The climbing frame was empty, but the pool wasn't. A few little girls were splashing about, while a couple of babysitters sunned themselves nearby, and Ro was content to just watch them from the monkeybars. However, when his classmates Reuben and Spencer showed up, he looked longingly at the cool, inviting water, wishing he had brought his togs.

Ro doesn't mind this sort of summer school

Can you imagine an American elementary school having a swimming pool? If so, could you imagine the students being allowed to wander onto campus and use it at will on summer vacation, with no official supervision? For free? Life's a lot different when fun isn't constrained by liability concerns.

Can I go swimming, daddy? Puh-leeeez?

Mark felt bad for Ro sitting dry on the sidelines, so he let him strip down to his shorts and hop in the pool to splash around with his buddies, knowing full well Ro would complain of being cold and wet when he got out. With Mt Maunganui traffic the way it is these days, there was no time to go back home to fetch his togs before Sherry finished her shopping. Ro wasn't in the pool two minutes when he [accidentally] caught a boogie board to his face; Mark could see the tears welling up, but they never came as Ro sucked it up in front of his mates. With no sunscreen handy to put on Ro's pale Irish skin, Mark limited his time in the pool and soon told him it was time to go pick up Mum. Ro wasn't happy about getting out, especially when he didn't have any dry clothes to put on, but the car was plenty warm from the hot sun so it became less of a big deal once out of the ocean breeze.

Get outta my way!

Spencer & Ro chillin' while Reuben swims nearby

Ro is fascinated by Sherry's gimpy predicament, if a little less than sympathetic. He commandeers her crutches regularly to play "laser man," and is reluctant to give them up when she needs them back. After dinner, Mark took Ro down to our pool to give Sherry a break and a chance to relax in peace. Her efforts at taking a bath were a comedy of errors. No pictures, sorry. Meanwhile, Ro and Mark bounced a beach ball around with some kids in the pool for nearly two hours, trying to keep it from hitting the water. From the pool, they could see the Dawn Princess pulling out of port, her passengers waving goodbye to everyone lining the pier and Pilot Bay Beach.

Enjoying the watermelon we lugged home from Northland