Summer is here

 Summer is here, easy to tell. Hurray for air conditioners. I feel sorry for my plants, I can't manage to keep them hydrated. They can't even cry out for just a drop of moisture. My dogs let me know when their bowl is empty. They just come and stare at me, so I know they want something.

As you age, as I am often reminded, you really need to stay hydrated. Passing out, licking your lips, etc, are just a small amount of signs that you REALLY need a drink, the clear kind, non alcoholic. Might land you in the hospital if you don't watch it.

When we were kids, my two sisters and I, mother would turn on the sprinkler so we could play in the refreshing spray. After a storm, we took off our shoes and played in the gutters in front of the house and stomped to see who could make the biggest splash.  We sometimes got to see a beautiful rainbow. Sometimes there were two. 

My dogs like to play in water and really don't like baths, but they get them, anyway. From all that waterplay, we looked forward to going swimming at the public pool. Mother watched from the bleachers as we swam or bounced around, depending on our ages and abilities. Esther Williams was a movie favorite and I tried to mimic some of her graceful abilities.  

When I got older, I joined some swimmers and went to an indoor pool in Dallas where our group of Red Cross instructors assisted several handicapped students with their safety jackets and getting into the pool.  I remember one boy who had no use of his legs, had developed tremendous lung power and strong arms and he could swim from one end of the pool to the other underwater. I felt outclassed by his drive and how he had dealt with the loss of leg power.  It was a fun and exciting day to see children having such joy, many for the first time in their limited life.

The remembrance still challenges me to be grateful for all that I am blessed with in life, and not complain.

May the Lord bless your life,

Gael