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| My ageless mother on her 80th birthday in September, 2011, modelling her cover up for her next trip to Mexico in January 2012 |
This Saturday morning we were up by 5:30 a.m. and on the road by 6:00! The destination? My mom's home, which is about a two and a half hour drive. The purpose? To complete the pool deck demolition/wood recycling project initiated by my husband. The weather forecast? Sunny with a high of 10 degrees celsius.
My spouse had worked on two previous occasions and brought home piles of reusable lumber, mostly cedar. He assured me that with the two of us working we could complete the job in a couple of hours. We drove to the back of the house, where the old above-ground pool sprawled, unused for the past three summers.
I had not told my mom that we were coming as I thought it would make a nice surprise. We did not want to wake them up so early in the morning, so we got right to work by 8:30 a.m. The sun did not come out, nor did the temperature rise above freezing. In fact there was even some snow in the air! As I hammered nails backwards through the boards and then pulled them out with the claw, my mind wandered to many memories surrounding this place.
My mother divorced my father in 1978 and remarried the following year. She and her second husband have lived in their present home for thirty years. The pool was added for summer relaxation and entertainment. I remember my two preschool children swimming in the four feet of water for the first time so many years ago. A summer trip to Grandma's always included a swim in their round pool.
As I carried the scraps of wood to the back of the lot I had to go around the three gigantic pine trees that were planted by my mother so very long ago. I marvelled at their height and wondered to myself, where has the time gone? I remember a time when my two children were taller than those tiny trees.
So many memories filled my mind as I worked. Suddenly I heard my step-father yelling out the back door, "So what are you two doing here today?" and I was brought back to the present moment. We were invited in for coffee and some catching up time. My mother showed me her latest project- a shoebox overflowing with Christmas gifts suitable for a 5-9 year old girl. "I guess I'm going to have to find a bigger box," she laughed.
Later the four of us went outside in the cool November weather to finish the demolition/recycling job. Every last nail was removed and saved. Every last good piece of wood was placed on our truck, ready to be moved to our home on the lake and crafted in to a swimming dock for the kids next summer. Every last scrap of wood was carried to the back of the lot, where one day there will be a bonfire.
After lunch out at a local restaurant, we hugged good-bye and made plans to get together again soon. Our visits are more frequent now as we are very aware of the passage of time. Maybe we will be invited to their place for a bonfire later this winter.
My mother no longer is able to swim in her pool, deliver meals-on-wheels, or take long walks in the country. What she can do, however, is bring out warm winter hats and gloves for everyone when the temperature drops unexpectedly, bring joy to an unfortunate and unknown child at Christmas time, and express appreciation to her aging daughter and son-in-law. That's my mom, and I am thankful that she is still in my life!
Until next time,
Bee Rich
