Swim is life. Eve was moved up to ROCK's Gold Squad this fall, and earned enough qual times to travel with the team to the Mission Viego Turkey Classic in November...she could have attended in other years, but ma 'n pa feel that too much too early is everything we despise in the world. It was a lucky coincidence that for Eve's first travel meet, I was available to chaperone.
They all got together and puffy-painted sweats...leave it to my kid to emblazon her derriere. There's a little Beyonce in all of us.
Outside the OC aeropuerto...nothin' but trouble comin' with that crew. Actually, just a joy to be with...a tight little well-behaved squad. There's few things I hate more than a 6 a.m. wake-up call, and 8-hour meets aren't high on my list either (seriously, the end of the world comes? Our very last day? Schedule a swim meet. We'll be there forever). But these kiddos made it most pleasant, even when I had to call the front desk to complain about the noise from the other resident swim team, and the pot smoking from the neighbors who were staying for a wedding...what is it about hotels that make poor behavior de rigeur?
Belly Boo at the Mission Viejo Natadores' swim facility...we got a little teary-eyed with nostalgia, the concept that you could swim outdoors all year long, in a lovely terra-cotta Spanish-influenced facility, bouganvillea trees everywhere you look. Sweet reed-thin mothers huddled around the pool in pea-coats and Uggs because it's dipped to 60 degrees, you trooping around in capris and flip-flops...When you visit, you remember all that is lovely and fun about Southern California. For entire minutes at a time, you question why you ever left in the first place. And then you get in a car and attempt to pick up Subway sandwiches 1/2 mile away, and it all comes back to you: you don't have enough time, energy or money to keep up with the pace. Every guest cottage of a house worth inhabiting is worth a half-mil or more. Oh, yeah. THAT'S why.
Lounging. Lounging in between events is the best part of the team experience.
I didn't get to lounge, however. I was the chaperone, which meant I procured lunch and snacks, and, when Coach Will lost the keys to the 2nd rental car, I got to leave the pool, go to the hotel (very nice!), take them up to the pool, stay at the pool for 45 minutes, leave to get an early lunch for the kids, then head back to the hotel, accompany the tow truck driver in his trip to the airport, secure a new vehicle (the rental car employee had a great story about meeting Ryan Lochte in Vegas), and drive back. These are the legends from which memories are made.
The meet is the excuse for the trip. In-N-Out is the reason for the trip. One of the coaches had the audacity to mention that perhaps it was just a burger and that our enthusiasm was misplaced. I was aghast. Then we went to the Spectrum to see 'Wreck-It Ralph'. Always one of my favorite theaters. Ah, memories. Eve even took the team on a pilgrimage to the Turtle Fountains she and her brothers enjoyed in their early years...they weren't as epic in proportion as she remembered. And that's just life, isn't it?
Morning of the flight home, Laguna Beach. Had myself a lovely stroll through the library used book store (one must have a book for the flight home when one has been trying to read 'The Hobbit' and one absolutely can't bring oneself to do it) and many out-of-reach home decor shops before joining the kiddos on the beach...
presh.
...and home we go. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
1 comment:
Ah, a visit to California in the dregs of winter. It's the stuff of dreams. Come visit me in Utah. We can go to In-N-Out, and all our old haunts, and stay up late and giggle. Have guest rooms, will travel to airport.
Post a Comment