Tall grasses poolside...Autumn is definitely upon us.
Bill came and closed the pool. It's a done deal. Each fall Bill and I have a little ritual that goes something like this: Bill calls and says, "Hi, there, it's that time of year when we need to schedule your pool closing and I was thinking tomorrow would be a good day if that works for you." My reply is always, "Go away, Bill, I am not listening, I do not hear you." (Fortunately, Bill and I are friends and he knows that this is just a little song and dance we do each year.) Bill continues, "Now, Missy, you and I both know that it is time. I will put yours the very last on the list, so you can swim until I get there at 4:00." My reply, "Go away, Bill, I am not listening, I do not hear you."
The next day Bill shows up on schedule, hikes the first bit of pool closing equipment down to the pool, and says, "You got 5 minutes and then I am dumping in the stuff that will kill algae and take all the skin off your bones." My reply, "Go away, Bill, I am not listening, I do not hear you." To which he always replies, "I have reinforcements with me...don't make us pull you out of there kicking and screaming like every other year...just exit nicely for once...." (And, FYI, I have never actually had to be pulled out kicking and screaming...whining, yes, but actual kicking and screaming, no.)
I love summer. I love that pool and being able to just walk down there and swim any old time I want to. We have a whole lotta good times around and in that pool. I see Bill as just a big old spoil sport when it comes to closing it down for the winter...surely the frost will not be on the pumpkins much before November...surely I have many fine days left of perfect weather for swimming (i.e. anything above 69 degrees works for me). And lastly, I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, "Have a great winter and I'll see you in the spring!" Bill is a cruel, cruel man. (All the same, I do like him immensely, after all, he does put ours last on his list.)