Spanning The Ages

I had given a considerable amount of thought to staying indoors this weekend and resting up. I couldn’t quite put my hand on the problem, but I was very uncomfortable. It was around two o’clock in the afternoon when I woke up from a nap. Gina mentioned that Cassandra was going to ask me to watch the girls later that night, but then Gina also told her that I wasn’t feeling well. I got dressed and walked out to the pool to talk to Cassandra. The sun was nice and warm but the humidity was suffocating me. It felt more and more laboring to take each breath as we talked about the evening. When Gina had mentioned to her that I wasn’t feeling well, another friend suggested that her daughter watch the girls instead. I was disappointed because I was looking forward to watching them, but I also knew that if I were sick with something they could catch, I wouldn’t want them to get it too.


Everyone commented that they missed me at the pool today, and as I walked slowly back to the apartment, each friend asked how I was and if I was going to come out to visit. I’m reminded how blessed I am to have many friends who want to share their lives with me. I went inside to put on my swimming suit, but as I started changing into the suit, it became harder and harder to breathe comfortably or move around. I surrendered to whatever was contributing to my weakness and put my nightgown back on and crawled back into my bed, temporary defeated.


A couple of hours later, I woke again and went to the door to see what was happening. Rich had just finished grilling dinner for everyone. Chuck, Cassandra, Gina, and Al were up on deck talking, and some of the kids were roasting marshmallows over the pit. I wanted to go out and be with everyone but didn’t want the same thing to happen as did earlier today. I yelled at Chuck and asked him to fix me a marshmallow. After harassing me, he brought one to the apartment door on a stick. Such friends! They kept yelling at me to get my suit on and come out. I decided to give it one more attempt since it was getting close to evening and the temperature was cooling down some.


As I entered the pool, they razzed me all the way. I put my glass of water down on the table and headed for the pool to cool myself off. It didn’t take long for Fox and Kalla to discover that I was in the pool. They rushed to get their water wings on and then hurried in. They were both smiling at me with anticipation. They couldn’t wait to play with Shell. Everyone said it and now I could see it on their faces myself. There was no denying it. Cassandra cautioned them not to wear me out, but neither of the three of us was listening. The water seemed to relax my sore muscles and the weightlessness helped when holding the girls. They were relentless in keeping me busy, taking turns jumping into my arms, and I was loving every minute we were sharing, laughing and playing together. The girls allow me to be a child again with them and experience what they are experiencing in the moment. After a good hour or so had gone by, I began to feel my energy slipping away again. I called for Cassandra to come and get the girls, but they didn’t want to leave the pool. Who could resist their sad eyes? I gave in and stayed in the pool with them for a while longer. Whatever tiredness I was feeling could be addressed later, now was the time to make some memories. After a while, even they were becoming tired though and they lay on the rafts while I propelled them around the pool. Rich and Cassandra had told me the sad news that they were leaving the complex in the middle of September. The girls and I soon would not be able to make these moments together anymore, so now was the time. I’ll miss the whole family. They have become good friends. I enjoy the comfort I feel when with them and the times we share together.


I finally decided it was time to get out of the pool when the pain in my shoulder could no longer be ignored. The girls were still reluctant so I decided to walk right up the steps of the pool with the two of them in my arms. That’s when it hit me. The pain was at it’s worst and my legs began to feel the weight of the two of them as we were exiting the water. I stopped, put Kalla back down into the water and continued out of the pool with Fox. They were both quite tired by this time and tears were streaming down their little faces as they suspected that their fun was being brought to an end. Once Fox was up on the deck, I went back for Kalla, who was still in tears and brought her up to where Fox was standing. Cassandra got the girls some pudding from the cooler and the tears began to subside.


I sat down in the chair and found myself weighing the pain from my sore body to the pleasure of playing with the girls. The pleasure began to massage the pain and while the pain will eventually go away, the pleasure will always be in my memories.


As the evening began to unfold, Cassandra, Chuck, Kalla, Al and his kids were leaving for the evening. Rich stayed to read the paper and Fox stayed behind with him to play a little longer. Rich and I talked as both of us followed Fox’s excursions around the pool with our eyes. Now the time came for Rich to pack up the things into the car and head out for the evening. Fox wanted a towel, so I walked back into the apartment to get a dry one to wrap herself in. Rich was still packing up when I got back. I began wrapping Fox in the towel and then she motioned for me to pick her up. I did so, but then was reminded once more of my sore body and quickly sat back down in the chair with her in my arms. She was ready for a catnap but didn’t take her eyes off “pa-pa” as he continued loading up the wagon. Whenever he would go out of sight, she would ask the question “Where’s pa-pa?” I would let her know what he was doing and she would relax again, certain that he would come back to get her.


While Fox sat on my lap, slowly her heartbeat began to keep pace with mine and we sat there together looking up at the sky waiting for the first star of the evening to appear. Moment by moment, her eyelids became heavier, and, as her entire body relaxed against my chest, she quietly drifted off to sleep. Now as her little hand lay outstretched on my arm I remember thinking to myself that God doesn’t make moments any better than this was right now, so I said a silent thank you to God for giving it to me. I can only hope that someday when she grows older, she might have a fond memory of it also.


Rich came back for the last time and upon seeing Fox asleep in my arms, grinned with a gentle sweet smile only a pa-pa could know. He picked her up into his arms and as we walked away from the pool, I kissed her cheek ever so tenderly so as not to wake her. I’m grateful that I had that day to spend and chose to spend it wisely. There’s always tomorrow to rest after they’re gone.


The age span of my friends amazes me. It reaches from infancy to those in the eighties.