POOL PAL PICNIC

I DO MISS MY AQUAFIT CLASSES. IT MIGHT BE HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A CLASS OF STRANGERS,OF ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, AGES, AND FAITHS COULD BECOME SUCH GREAT FRIENDS . BUT THIS HAPPENED.

I’VE TAKEN THESE CLASSES IN CALGARY AND HERE IN EDMONTON FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS. MOVING MY BODY IN THE WATER IS THE ONE THING THAT I CAN DO WITH VERY LITTLE PAIN SO IT HAS BEEN THE BEST FORM OF EXERCISE FOR ME.

I’VE TRIED A FEW DIFFERENT POOLS (SOME HEATED, THERAPEUTIC) BUT AS WE TEND TO DO I FINALLY STUCK WITH THE ONE CLOSEST TO MY HOUSE. THE VERY FIRST DAY THAT I ENTERED THE PETER HEMMINGWAY POOL 2 PEOPLE SWAM UP TO ME, INTRODUCED THEMSELVES AND IMMEDIATELY FORGED THE FIRST LINK IN A CHAIN OF FRIENDSHIP THAT WILL NOT EVER BE BROKEN.

THESE FOLKS (BOB AND ELIZABETH)WELCOMED EVERY NEW PERSON INTO THE CLASS AND TAUGHT ME TO BE LESS SHY ABOUT DOING THE SAME THING. RALPH AND JUDY INVITED ME TO COFFEE AFTER CLASS THAT FIRST WEEK AND IT WASN’T LONG BEFORE OUR COFFEE GROUP BLOSSOMED INTO A MEETING UP OF THIS WONDERFUL GANG AFTER EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY , AND FRIDAY CLASS.

WE GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER THROUGH OUR STORIES , JOKES, AND KINDNESSES. WE STARTED MEETING UP WITH 3/4’S OF THE POOL CLASS FOR A SUMMER BAR-BE-QUE AT KAREN AND DARRELL’S HOME ONCE A YEAR AND FOR A CHRISTMAS PARTY AT OURS IN DECEMBER. ‘BOB’ CALLED OUR CLASSES “YACKERSIZE” BUT I THINK THAT THOSE CLASSES WERE GOOD FOR THE SOUL AS MUCH AS FOR THE BODY. WE HAVE SUPPORTED EACH OTHER THROUGH MANY PHYSICAL CHALLENGES TOO. VARIOUS FRIENDS IN OUR SMALL CIRCLE OF POOL PALS HAVE ENDURED SEIZURES, PARKINSONS, ARTHRITIS, OPERATIONS FOR HEART, AND MANY JOINT REPLACEMENTS. WE ARE OLD BUT HEARTY…HA HA.

YOUNGER FOLKS WOULD TRY AND TAKE CARE OF THE MORE SENIOR FRIENDS OUTSIDE OF CLASS AND INSIDE TOO. FRIENDS WOULD LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER IN THE ICY, WINTER PARKING LOT AND WHEN RALPH’S ‘BRIDE’ STARTED TO SHOW SIGNS OF EARLY ONSET DEMENTIA WE WOULD HELP HER GET ON HER BATHING SUIT IF SHE FORGOT HOW. WE HAVE BEEN TO SEVERAL FUNERALS TOO AS MOST OF THE FOLKS IN THE CLASS ARE SENIORS. WE HAVE SHARED GIFTS OF JAM AND RECIPES FOR BREAD AND OTHER GOODIES. WE’VE SHARED PHOTOS OF OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND GIVEN EACH OTHER IDEAS FOR DAY TRIPS . SOME FOLKS EVEN HOLIDAY TOGETHER!

THEN COVID CLOSED OUR POOL.

ALL OF US SUFFERED FROM BEING APART FROM THE WORKOUTS AND FROM EACH OTHER. SO WE DECIDED THAT WE MIGHT NOT GET TO SEE EACH OTHER IN THE WATER BUT WE COULD CERTAINLY MEET UP IN A SAFE, SOCIAL DISTANCING WAY. OUR CLOSEST GANG MEETS UP EVERY WEDNESDAY AT THE POOL GROUNDS . WE USUALLY BRING COFFEES/BREAKFAST AND SIT UNDER THE TREES TO CATCH UP ABOUT ABOUT LIFE. YESTERDAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME WE MET UP FOR A LUNCHTIME PICNIC BAR-BE-QUE AND IT WAS GREAT FUN .

I KNOW I AM BLESSED TO HAVE THESE GREAT “POOL PALS” IN MY LIFE.

LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT WEDNESDAY!