quality of life

after walking around
really pleasant and friendly beaches
for a couple hours with my brother in law

we hung out around the heated swimming pool yesterday
here at the apartment complex
after the kids got home from school

yours truly
the guy who lifts milk crates in a refrigerator for a living
generally opting for the nearby hot tub

sixties and sunny

the kids are benefitting from the time away
from long island nonsense

dad does a nice job i think
of letting them work/play through their needs
to discharge accumulated stresses
setting boundaries just when things go too far

sweet to have the pool pretty much to ourselves
on such a gorgeous day

dad later said it was the best day he's had in years

quality of life

_________

evening time
I took them out for the big dinner splurge of the week

fish type places tend to be pricey
and when we got downtown and saw it was right on the water
I knew what I was in for

but it was rather painless really
and well worth it

the young one, eight, got dressed up in her best dress
the middle ordered pasta as expected
and was finished before anyone else started
the eldest, 13 and in an aloof phase,
at least allowed me to muse on the interesting life
I was predicting for him

and with an occasional passing sailboat decorating our view
their dad mused on taking long-wished-for
sailing lessons

it was tremendous fun to play uncle
buy the youngest the fancy strawberry drink
someone else had ordered
because not only did it look yummy
but there was a seahorse toy on top

some people call this spoiling kids
i call it loving them:
giving them attention
sensing what is important to them
responding appropriately

we watched a big cruise ship pull away
and then a peaceful sunset on the Pacific

and I told them I was glad
amidst all the squabbling kids do
to see all the love present in the family

______________________

since it was everyone's first foray downtown

we walked around the boardwalk
looked at some gorgeous huge sailing ships
docked right there

a cargo ship called the Star of India from the 1860s:
I've never seen so many ropes and masts and things!

inspiring their dad who is an ocean archeologist
who promised they would come back
to see the maritime museum
and tour the ships

we got some ice cream on the way home
good times all around

I was happy to contribute