In the summer of 1960, I was three and my younger brother was 1. We lived across the street from Goose Egg Park and Northrop Elementary school. Our home didn’t have air conditioning. We had one fan that moved with the family from room to room. Mostly, when it was hot, we were hot.
Except for our wading pool. I could play on the swings, or in the yard, and then return to the air temperature water to cool off. I remember running in and out of the water, splashing as I went. By the end of the day what little water remained in the pool was littered with grass and tinged the color of dirt. Mom or Dad would clean it out and refill it the next day.
You’d think a day spent in the water would mean I went in the house clean. Not so. The bottoms of my little feet were dirty and my body sweaty. That meant a cool bath after supper and right before bed.
I remember how good popsicles tasted, the way water sprinkles looked like diamonds in the grass, and the way my little brother smiled. I can still see Mom’s hands holding him and hear her voice reminding me to stay in the yard, and the way it felt sit to on my swing and “pump” so hard I could pretend I was flying. There were sunburned shoulders, Kool-aid, skinned knees, and mosquito bites.
Daddy drove a Ford, Mom wore aprons, my brother watched the Three Stooges rocking on his tummy. I remember the sound of Coca~Cola being poured over ice cubes – it was a grown-up drink in those days – although Dad once gave me the last of his bottle, and it was love at first drink.
It was summertime and the days were humid-hot, but we were happy. After all when things got really uncomfortable, we had the pool.
What are some of your favorite summer time memories?
Joy
Joy is the author of 8 books, including Your Life a Legacy, Rain Dance, Raccoon Tales, Room for Bandit, and It Is Good.
To learn more about her books you can visit www.booksbyjoy.com
About Joy Dekok
