Today was a great day. Sarah and I went down to Olympia to celebrate my twin nephews and my brother in law's birthdays. We're lucky enough to have a cabin in the family that is literally on the water. When I say that I mean the tide actually comes up under the house. Many summertime memories from my childhood focus on the great times had there. It's old and falling apart slowly but for a day or two it's just perfect. My sister, her husband and their kids go pretty frequently during the summer but I haven't been for a year or two and Sarah had never been there.
Jaimee's kids all get so excited about the water. The truth is...I get so excited about the water! It was so much fun to see their excitement at the waves and the boats. The best part was remembering exactly how they felt because it wasn't too long ago I was that age saying the same things. Upon arrival I asked mom to watch Sarah for a few minutes so I could get my suit on and get into the water. It was COLD. I am not the water-kid I used to be. Now when my toes and legs go numb and my hands get tingly it actually hurts. But I waded waist deep for 10-15 minutes with everyone and eventually decided I couldn't do it any longer. Some time passed and we finished lunch when I had renewed strength to try it again.
I challenged Jaimee to go in the water and swim around with me. It was just like we were 10 and 12 again. "Come on! Let's just do it. Right now. I dare you. Let's go!" So we did. The kids were THRILLED we were going swimming, again, I remember being sooo stoked when my parents would cave in and brave the cold waters. Tim was more than happy to join in the fun. So there we were, I think about 6 or 8 of us hanging on one little floaty tire. Once we were accustomed to the water we swam all the way out to a buoy and back. It was exhilarating. I loved it. The kids were so excited.
Now I know why my dad likes to have us all out there to have a good time. He remembers the great times he had when he was younger. It's amazing to see life through a child's eyes again. I loved watching Sarah discover the way the sand feels in her toes, or the way the rocks hit the water all at once. It was awesome to see her eyes as a huge helicopter flew over the cabin only 40 ft in the air, so close we could wave and see the occupants waving back with their headsets on. Today was a good day to remember what it's like to be a kid and how it feels to be excited about the simple things.
1 comment:
you make me excited for you when reading that, you have a way of bringing life to your stories that is really fun. talking about "numbing up" for swimming brings me back to the river swimming days, that water is like a glacier running through your body, good times...good times... :)
Post a Comment