I love the smell of chlorine

I do love the smell of chlorine.  Really.

It reminds me of my childhood, especially in the early 60′s when I lived in California, when my mom took my brothers and me to the Navy pool in San Diego almost every day.  I learned to swim at that L-shaped pool, and to dive off the diving board.  I still remember my little red & white checked bathing suit with the ruffled skirt attached.  I remember sitting on the grass near the pool and eating the lunches that my mom packed for us.  I still remember going through the little entry-way that brought us to the pool area and smelling that wonderfully clean, happy smell of chlorine.

Way back in the summer of 1982, Barry and I joined a family swim club and all of those preserved and imprinted memories became real again.  Summer was about getting up early, packing the lunches and snacks and heading to the pool for the day.  The entire day.  Often times, we stayed at the pool until its 8:00 pm closing.  Our kids learned to swim and dive and enjoy summer days just as I had.  Audrey and Jane took things one step further when they joined the pool’s swim team.  That meant getting up even earlier… and even on the coldest mornings, and in the rain and wind and inclement weather… they wouldn’t miss a swim practice.  This summer swim team led to joining Age Group swim teams, and then pools became a year-round thing for us.

More chlorine.  I loved it.  I loved opening their swim bags and washing all their towels and sweatshirts and gear each night.  I loved sitting in the stands with Barry and my mom and mother-in-law… watching Audrey and Jane turn into wonderful competitors.  I loved traveling all over New England and beyond, smelling that wonderfully clean, happy smell of chlorine in so many, many different pools.

So you can only imagine my delight when Taylor, our oldest granddaughter (who is 8 years old), LOVED to swim.  Yes, even more chlorine.  Taylor swims on an Age Group team in the winter and for the very same summer team where Auntie Audrey and Auntie Janie swam.  And this summer, Taylor’s 6-year old brother, Andrew, joined the swim team.   Then Maddie, who is also 8 years old, decided to swim competitively for the very first time. Perfection!

This weekend was the All-Pool Meet and hundreds of swimmers and their teams from all over Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts competed.  This was chlorine heaven for Barry and me… the good old days back again.  And what “swims” our 3 swimming grandchildren swam!

Taylor took 1st place in the 8 and under 25 freestyle, 1st place in the 8 and under 25 butterfly, and was on the 1st place 8 and under freestyle relay.  Taylor rocked the pool and swam her fins off!  Her starts, her swims and her finishes were legendary, as in “Eat my bubbles!”

Andrew was a member of the 3rd place 8 and under freestyle relay.  On Saturday, during trials, he DQ’d in the 25 breaststroke when he took a tiny, tiny freestyle stroke at the beginning of his race.  He took it like a man, though… saying to me later, “Grandma, I DQ’d in my breaststroke. But it’s OK.” My heart melted.  Of course it’s OK, Buddy!  Andrew’s smile and sportsmanship beat all the competition as he zoom, zoom, zoomed, taking all kinds of seconds off his best time in the 25 freestyle.

And then Maddie, swimming in her first big meet, placed 5th overall in the 8 and under 25 backstroke.  5th!  She had the concentration and energy and spirit to make the greatest debut splash of all in her bright green cap and pink goggles!  Grace under pressure… and perfect arms, too!

Yes, I love the smell of chlorine.  It’s chlorine-induced euphoria for me!  Congratulations to Taylor, Andrew and Maddie for all the joy, all the smiles, all the laughter, all the hugs, all the cheers for each other, all the sweetness… and all the chlorine! I love you!