The Counterbalance

What a day.  Rosie had her first ever hair cut followed by an up-do.  John had his hair cut and how to spell it, moussed?  And then we went to our summer discovery zone — the pool.  The joy that happens for us at the pool never ceases to amaze me.  I know that there will be a day that I take a book to the pool or even just drop off the kids.  But at this point, I leave the books at home and am grateful for it.  Yesterday Rosie discovered a discarded toy that would float for at least 20 seconds before sinking to the bottom.  So she started throwing it into the water, jumping in after it, and getting it.  This is a NEW thing.  Being able to swim and be somewhat confident opens new worlds.  Then you can go off the slide.  The diving board.  The possibilities are endless.

The amazing part is the pure joy.

We were there at 4:45 because the kids had swim lessons starting at 5:30.  In Salisbury there was a meeting about my mom’s meds.  I could have been in the meeting via a conference call. But I had to be here, Rosie flinging herself into the water with abandon and joy as John, newfound freedom in the board area, does his new back dive.  There are so few moments of discovery this raw, and right now I get to share fully.  This too shall pass, and I want to live it.  Or grab it and growl, as my friend Janet would say.  Also, since I trust my sibs to make good decisions, I really think my mom would want me in the pool.

Ok, I can’t photograph the pool.  IF I could, it would be that moment when Rosie is flying through the air, arms and legs flying, leading with her chest as she catapults toward the water.  But I can show you some images of Rosie, after 5 1/2 years of never getting her hair cut, getting her first experience with the added bonus of the updo.  She had that, “I can’t believe it’s my turn!” look on her face.  She asked which way to cross her legs if she wanted to do it like a grown up.  Then when someone there asked her if she was going to miss me when she went to school, she emphatically said, “NO!”  She can’t wait for that, like for this: