Just as kids get excited Christmas morning, I get excited the day my pool opens. Yesterday, we opened the pool. Even though the water is cloudy and I cannot swim yet, I still relish awakening in the morning and looking out on my own private heaven. I’ve been awakening to the sight of an expanse of clear blue water since I was five years old.
My parents built an inground pool when I turned 5 and most of my fondest memories are of growing up at Camp Segal. When I moved to Long Grove, I reopened Camp Segal and treated my children to the joys of having a pool, volleyball and basketball court and bags in their back yard. My memories of summers past in Long Grove are fond ones with many groups of teenagers and adults reveling in the sun and water.
Whomever said all good things must come to an end knew what he/she was talking about. We have a “showing” today. On the one hand, I’m excited about my move to North Carolina and starting my retirement stage of life. I am sure whoever buys my house will enjoy the screened porch and pool. Whether it takes on a country club like environment as it did with my family or a peaceful, private escape, I know they will love it.
On the other hand, I want to stay and enjoy one more summer at Camp Segal. The one place where the Parkinson’s does not bother me is in the water. Lunching on the screened porch and lounging in the pool is my kind of heaven. Lucky for me that my 55-year-old and older community in North Carolina offers me a similar experience.
There will be one clear difference, the laughter of little kids playing will be replaced by old people complaining or telling jokes.
Paul: “o… o… o… y… y… y, o… y”
John: “I thought we weren’t talking about the kids today!”
Three old men sitting at the breakfast table drinking coffee. Max complains, “I’m so constipated. I wake up in the morning and push, push, push. Eventually, after an hour or so, I have a little B.M.”
His friend Paul says, “I don’t have any problems with BM. My problem is peeing. I strain and strain for hours. Finally, I get some relief.” The third guy says, “I don’t have any problem pooping or peeing, I just do both 1 hour before I get up.”
I’m already boning up on my jokes. Renee and I are learning to play bridge and Mahjong and settle into old age. Just as Renee and I are going to settle into a new way of life in NC, so must all of us settle into the new rules of life caused by Covid-19.
The sooner we accept change, whether good or bad, the sooner we can get on with our lives. The better we comply with the rules of our new way of life the happier and healthier we will be.
Be happy, be healthy and pray for a vaccine or a therapeutic approach that works.
