Water and Fire

You know my obsession with water. Give me a lake, a pool, an ocean, a bathtub ... I'll take a swim. Now it's autumn and there's a chill in the air. It's time for fires.

If I like something, I want "two of 'em." It's a trait I was born with. Selfish? Yes. But the giving part of my personality wants everyone else to have one too.

We bought a fireplace for the oldie's room. Our bedroom also has a gas fireplace. Our living room has an old fashioned, wood-burning fireplace that I enjoy hauling wood to keep it going. I consider it two minutes of camping.

I grew up without a fireplace in my home. I was very confused about how Santa was going to shimmy down the chimney when we didn't have one. Lucky for my parents, I was gullible enough to buy whatever story they told me. Even when they broke the bad news, I knew I was lucky. I don't need some fat man at the North Pole -- I lucked out with them. (I still like the fantasy.)

We also have one of those fire pits on our patio. On my best days I can sit in front of a fire and then swim in the tub.

Power

There's an old saying:

Power comes from three things -- love, words and the sea. Great care should be taken because they can cause joy or grief, salvation or destruction.

I'm drawn to this because it covers three of my favorite things. But, I know power comes in other forms too.

There's nothing wrong with power. People run companies, run countries, run families. These are all powerful positions. I am a control freak but it's mainly toward myself. I don't crave power but I seem to be attracted to it.

I have seen and lived the power of love.
I have used the power of words to heal and to harm.
The power of the sea (or water in general) overwhelms me.

Today I'm going to use my power in a positive way.

Swim Walking

The husband and I have now owned two Labs. Both had to be taught to swim which is a skill that is supposed to be intuitive. Our current maniac could use the ladder with her first water experience but couldn't quite muster the courage to get in on her own.

It's a little like when a child is potty trained. As of this weekend, she can now do it on her own, although she uses the ladder. She's a wuss. She doesn't swim out very far; she likes it best when her feet can still touch the bottom. Her front paws are paddling and my friend has termed it "swim walking."

I remember faking stomach aches to get out of swim lessons and then I experienced the baby doing the same. Now we both swim like fish. My mother, who spent the bulk of her teenage years in Florida, still swears she can't swim. I think she's not giving herself enough credit.

We couldn't get maniac dog out of the water this weekend. She vacillated between swim walking and actual swimming. Maybe next year she'll learn to dive off the pier.

The Sunday Night Freak Out

Weekends allow us to relax. For the husband, that means golf and cards. For me, I might go to the pool or curl up with a book.

Like all good things, the weekend ends. Then the brain neurons kick in and it's Sunday night. You're evaluating the week. You're facing reality again. You're making to-do lists. You're pacing.

Even retired people struggle with this. It's ingrained over decades and now there is nothing to be freaking about. It doesn't matter. The habit is there.

I have a Sunday night ritual. It involves a swim in my tub, a glass of wine and music. I have nothing to fear on Monday morning but I still do it.

Good Luck Charms

Some people carry a four-leaf clover or a rabbit's foot. I would tell you I'm not superstitious but if you've read previous posts, you know it's not true. I also carry something with me or have it nearby.

The picture above is my good luck charm. It's my mother on the beach. It's the size of a postage stamp and it's weathered and time worn. Sometimes I pull it out of my pocket or my nightstand and ask, "What should I do?" Sometimes I make faces at it and say, "Ha Ha -- You can't make me!" Sometimes I forget to look at her; I just look at the water and understand why I tie my love of the water with my mother's love.

Sometimes I can crack up noticing that our bodies may have changed but yes, those are our legs in that swimsuit.

I like to think that I invented "Birthday Week." All it means is that you can do or say whatever you want. When I was talking to my mother the other day, she said, "Don't mess with me. It's my birthday week."

Yes, Mom, it is. You may not like the attention but I could line up scores of people who adore you. I could name child after child that you have influenced.

From a simple child who carries this photo as her good luck charm, Happy Birthday week and thank you.

Water Heaven

We just returned from our friends' lake cottage. It's a lot of packing and driving for less than two days but I don't care. We have a system and I can pack in 10 minutes as long as someone as done the laundry. Ooops! That would be me. We haul the dog, her crate, her bag, nine million toys and tennis balls. It would've been easier to adopt a baby and take his or her stuff along. (Of course, Child Protective Services probably frowns when you get tired of them and throw them in a crate for a break. -- Wait a minute! In my childhood, those were called playpens.

The weather forecast was lousy. I didn't care. After driving through some rain Friday night, we arrived to friends sitting on the patio. Saturday morning was gray, rainy, etc. The women of the cottage took the dogs for a romping walk in the rain, mud and muck. They had a darn good time.

Then, the skies cleared. The sun came out. I did my best to stay outside. Oh, I slept inside, went in to make a sandwich, etc. but soaked it in. Wet dogs shaking off after a swim. Little children on neighboring piers learning to flip and dive. Sunsets over the water. This is the womb for me.

We had six adults, one teenager plus dogs: two golden retrievers, one yellow Lab and our maniac black Lab. They could all get a job at Walmart because they are excellent greeters. Gabby plants herself on the stairs between the house and the pier in case anyone needs to go up or down. There are many dogs on both sides but somehow, they all get along.

Today, we took a long boat ride, courtesy of some friends, and enjoyed a leisurely lunch. Then we packed it all up and headed home. The husband headed to the driving range and I headed to the laundry room.

Escaping

Memorial Day weekend ... time to relax and kick back.

In our city, today's focus is the Indianapolis 500 race. Lots of buzz. Lots of people. More eyes than ever are focused on our city since we were awarded the host of the Superbowl in 2012. I don't live close to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway but I live just close enough for the traffic to mess with me.

Sunday is usually my catch-up day: return emails, file papers, pay bills, etc. If I get really wacky, I deep condition my hair and paint my toenails. Middle-age maintenance is exhausting.

A running joke with the husband is that every day is a holiday for me. He finds it very funny. I'm slightly less entertained.

But, today he is correct. The pool is open. I'm headed over to cocktail corner. The water is calling and I'm escaping. The piles of paper and the bills will have to wait until tomorrow.

I can't wait to dive in.

The Spray Bottle

In my never-ending quest to control the maniac dog, I am open to any and all suggestions. I find her funny and delightful but apparently, I am the only one who holds this opinion.

I've tried the clicker, the whacker and the mean voice.

My mother suggested the spray bottle. I thought this was a little absurd since Labs love the water but as usual, my mother was right. Today was our first day with this experiment and she stopped jumping on people and counters within minutes. If I reach for the bottle, she becomes docile. Why didn't anyone tell me this secret?

Do you think this would've worked with the oldies? "Sit up, Hangdog or I'll spritz you!" Or, "If you fry one more thing in this kitchen, I'll blast you with my spray bottle!" We'll never know.

The only problem with the spray bottle plan is it has now become one more item attached to my person. Two pairs of glasses on my head or buried in my hair, cell phone clipped to a pocket, pen stuck behind the ear ... and now the spray bottle strung through a belt loop. I'm a freak but I'm prepared.

The Water Is Running

Cooking seems to be a thing of my past, except for the holidays. Oh, I round up the occasional meal but planning, shopping and stewing about it seems futile when the husband would prefer to go out and the oldies eat on a completely different schedule. Every once in a while, we hit some of our favorite carry-out places. I always try to include the oldies. Tonight we're going for BBQ.

So, I took the menu into the dungeon and asked if they would like to partake. Weird sound... what is it? I'm looking around ... are they listening to one of those CDs with water sounds?

No. Someone forgot to turn the faucet off in the bathroom. It's been running for hours.

Water

The pool is open! Many of my friends have pools but that has never appealed to me. Looks like a lot of work. Instead, I wait impatiently for our club pool to open and then jump up and down like a 5-year old when it does. As old members, the girlfriends and I have commandeered our special spot. We call it "Cocktail Corner." After golf, the husbands are allowed to join us. Every once in a while, some unknowing person ventures into our space. Wrong! We find a way to move them along. (We're usually polite.) You have to have been around the block a time or two to sit in Cocktail Corner.

I have friends with lake cottages. I can be packed before I hang up the phone. My blood pressure goes down significantly the moment I see the lake. Dogs and friends make for added fun but mainly, I like looking at the water, watching the sunset, cocktails on the pier and our other routines. (The wet dogs make Big Daddy crazy.) Dinner at 8pm? Dinner at 10pm? Who cares? Let's all go for a boat ride.

I love the ocean. Some people have this weird thing about flying over water. Are you any less dead if you crash in water versus on land? Call me crazy but I don't think so. I love to walk along the beach, I love the crash of the waves, I love the enormity of it all. I love the smell of ocean air. I love the memories.

The husband has a similar fondness for the mountains. I understand that. Mountains are majestic and I am in awe of the beauty they behold. I still need some water.

When I need an escape from the oldies, I love to take a swim in my tub.