Father's Day, 25

 

Like many folks during the chaos of 2020, we bought a swimming pool. As discussed in a previous column, (May, 2020) this pool was big enough to be a burden but not big enough to actually swim in. It was also big enough to need a level spot in our yard but ugly enough I wanted to hide it. Therefore we (and by “we” I mean “I”) tried to put it up in an area of our backyard where only the very next-door-of-neighbors would ever have to see it. Unfortunately, this spot was not level enough, and so, after hours of effort, we (and by “we” I mean “my wife”) insisted we stop the madness and ask my dad for help.

He came over the next day with some surveying equipment and before long we had found the flattest area in the yard. We staked it out and went back inside. The next day, the pool was moved to its new home and filled with level water, and the summer was saved.

The next summer arrived, and it came time to fill up the pool again. Dad was gone by then, though, but the place he had measured for us was still very obvious. We set up the pool in the right spot, filled it up, and, once again, “enjoyed” the fun that only a giant inflatable pool can bring.

Although the summers have passed and that inflatable pool has been replaced by a simpler one, each season we know where the pool is supposed to go thanks to dad’s good measure.

Happy Father’s Day, dad, and thank you for showing us the right place.