Green with Envy

Most holidays I can never be found in Dormont. Not always by choice, but my family lives in other places, so I tend to travel to them. Recently, I packed up and drove five hours east to visit family. The entire weekend, I kept repeating "I wish I could jump in a pool." It’s blatantly obvious that this weather has caused most people to be absurdly hot and a nice refreshing dip is in order. On my trip home, for five hours, I kept dreaming about jumping into a pool. As I drove home on a Monday around three o’clock I passed the Dormont Pool. I thought to myself that Dormont must be giving something away with the large amount of people that were there. I was legitimately shocked. Then it dawned on me that it was Memorial Day and that the pool is free to Dormont residents. I had totally forgotten that point. A grin was plastered across my face; I was going to get my wish!  

I pulled into my place; I took up a few bags (still leaving some in the car), changed into a swimsuit and within 15 minutes I was at the pool. I am ashamed to say that after living in Dormont for almost 5 years, it was my first experience at the pool.    

As a child growing up, my family had a pool membership. I lived at the pool  from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. every day until my senior year in high school. That was our thing and I loved it. In the later years, my brother and I would ride our bikes to the pool (which included some calls to Mom to pick us up, because we never thought how daunting the bike ride home would be after a full day of swimming). The main point is that as much as we loved the pool, we ALWAYS had to travel there, by car or by bike. It was about three miles and after a day of physical exertion and sun it seemed more like 50. 

Back to Memorial Day, as I scanned the pool to see where I would want to enter, I realized that each section was roped off. There was a shallow section, a five feet deep section, and then the deep end. There was even a small section for lap swimmers. How awesome is that?! I quickly became jealous of these kids. They are so lucky to have such a nice pool literally in their own back yard from the diving board, to the slide, to the volleyball net, and even to have the mushroom, I was jealous. Very jealous. One aspect that really stood out to me, was while I was there, the kids were not required to leave the pool. I was used to every 45 minutes having the kids leave the pool for the "adult" swim. While we were in the pool we would play games like Marco Polo, Sharks and Minnows, Categories, Cops and Robbers. But with a pool this size, I can’t even begin to think of the games we would have played and we'd never have to get out. I became a little bit greener. It was, however, so refreshing to see all the kids outside playing, laughing and having fun the way I did when I was a child. It was a great sight to witness.

As I stood near the far wall and I looked around the area I became envious of the residents that lived in the neighborhood. Not only do they have a basketball and tennis courts and an awesome playground right beside the enormous pool, but it is all within walking distance. I used to have sympathy for the kids in the area because most of the yards aren’t very big, but what these homes lack in lawn space, they make up in the recreational areas. Then I quickly realized that I am part of that lucky group of residents and I need to take more advantage of what I have so close.

I consider my first visit a success and I will be visiting it again soon. Dormont might have taken a little bit more of my heart that day.

I encourage others to visit the Dormont Pool. You never know, you just might like it!

Pssst: I'd love to hear your favorite memory of Dormont Pool. So post up if you have one!

Take it easy.