Baptism by Ghost or Am I Really That Clumsy?

Sometimes, I suffer from writer’s block.  I don’t want to keep writing the same things over and over again, because I don’t want to bore you, my readers.  I also don’t want to always post sad things. 

This is one of those times, so instead of going all deep and new-agey on y’all, I figured I would share a rather humorous story or two about the pool.

I love my pool.  I recently did an exercise where I had to list the five things that always and immediately bring a smile to my face, and the pool was on that list.  Even when I can’t get in it for whatever reason, I can sit and look at it and it brings me a sense of joy and calmness.  But it isn’t always all blissfulness… 

Many of my readers saw the video on Facebook of the Polar Plunge the day the pool was deemed finished, just before they covered it up.  It was freezing!!!  The water was 52° F, and although it was sunny and warm out, it did not lessen the feeling of knives slicing through my body as I hit the water.  I swam the length of the pool in record time, cussing with every breath.  I’m not even sure what language I was cussing in, but I didn’t care.  All I could think was that I had to get out and get out fast!!!  The pool guys thought I was absolutely nuts!

Something I have discovered since they uncovered the pool in March is that I seem to have a knack for falling in… or maybe it is Grubby giving me a gentle push from above.  Those who knew him know this is absolutely something he would take immense pleasure in doing.  The day they uncovered the pool, I was placing the robot into the pool and somehow, I ended up in the pool with Patrick (the robot.  Yes, all of my robots have male names… this is by design.  I like having men that will do my bidding for me, even if they are just robots!)!  The water was 54° F that day, although the air was about ten degrees cooler than it had been a month before.  I was fully clothed, wearing my PJs and a hoodie.  My flip flops were on my feet, readers were on my head, and phone was in my pocket.  I bent down to place the robot into the pool and all of a sudden – SPLOOSH!!!  I’m not sure what happened, but the next thing I knew I was back in that frigid water, cussing and making my way to the steps as fast as I could.  My flip flops came off, glasses were now in the bottom of the pool, and I was soaked from head-to-toe as I ran up onto the deck and began screaming for Abby to bring me a towel – FAST!!!  For those of you who don’t know, I live on a pretty busy county road, and it is not hard to see my deck as one is driving.  It was midday, and here I was dropping trou in broad daylight on the deck!  I apologize to any of the neighbors that heard the commotion and came out to see what happened.  Needless to say, I have been very conscious when near the pool… until recently.

One night, I went out for a night swim.  I was trying to appear all smooth as I went to enter the pool, instead of just jumping in.  Again, I ended up tumbling in and I am sure it was quite a sight, but it made me laugh… a lot!  I needed that laugh, but boy was I feeling like an idiot.  I mean, who doesn’t know their own pool well enough to get in without falling?!  Apparently, this girl.  At least the water was warm though!

Anyway, I hope you have gotten a chuckle out of these little vignettes.  I certainly did once they were over, and I still laugh about them.  And, yes, I have no doubt that Grubby is up there somewhere recounting the stories in his own unique way, repeating the punchline under his breath and giggling.  I also have no doubt that he was the hand that guided me, ever so gracefully, into the water.