Mustangs, beavers, and hypnotic eyes
When I was a kid, we didn’t have a swimming pool or tennis court in our backyard. Nor did we belong to the local swim club. We didn’t even go to the swimming pool at the Wright-Patt Officer’s Club.
No, we went to the swimming pool at Defense Electronics Supply Center (aka DESC - pronounced like Desi Arnaz), a Defense Logistics Agency installation that has since fallen victim to BRAC.
As lame as it may sound, some of my best summer memories are from the pool at DESC.
When I was in middle school, the adults would grill steaks and play volleyball in the pool on Friday nights. My brother and I were usually the only kids there, and we’d have the pool to ourselves for much of the evening. My father would sing Elvis songs, and I would run to the bathroom and hide out of sheer humiliation.
I also developed a wide-eyed crush on one of the young enlisted guys who frequented the pool. He was from California and drove a ‘65 Mustang, and as far as I was concerned, he was head and shoulders above any of the dorky guys at my school. He kindly tolerated my attention and introduced me to the music of The Eagles. (Hi Rawn!)
When I was in high school, I discovered that my friend Jen also went to the same pool. No more hanging out with my brother; I had a real, live friend to giggle with all summer long.
It was at this point that we started noticing the lifeguards. Unfortunately, one of the male lifeguards had a rather noticeable overbite, and we started referring to him privately as “Beaver”. Naturally, one day when we were bantering with him, Jen slipped up and sneered, “I doubt that, BEAVER.” I was too horrified to pretend I wasn’t in on the joke and look aghast that she would say such a thing, and I haven’t forgotten how I gasped and looked away in embarrassment. (Hi Bob. Sorry for being a jerk.)
When I was in college, I spent more time sitting on the side of the pool than swimming in it. You guessed it - I was chatting up the lifeguard again (a different one).
He was a senior in high school, and one of those rare guys who didn’t realize just how good-looking he was. His English teacher had a part-time job at the same bookstore where I worked. She told me that one day, in front of the whole class, a substitute told him that he had “hypnotic eyes”. A little bit Mary Kay LeTourneau-esque, but funny nonetheless. So the next time we went out, I waited all evening for the right opportunity to tease him about it.
We were sitting on my sofa, talking (I swear), when I suddenly looked at him and frowned.
“What?”
“Hmmm…” I kept staring, focusing on his eyes.
“WHAT?!”
“Did you know…you have the most hypnotic eyes?” I asked seriously - and then promptly fell apart laughing. He didn’t think it was as amusing as I did. Oh well. (Hi Keith!)
These days, we take the kids to the neighborhood pool during the summer, and to the indoor pool at the rec center the rest of the year. So far, Tacy isn’t noticing boys as being more than an annoyance, and I’m (usually) too busy making sure that no one’s drowning to check out the guys.
But it probably won’t be long before Tacy develops her first swimming pool crush. Here’s hoping I’ll be ready.
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Are you headed to the pool this weekend yourself? Take a break to post about your summer water adventures - you could win a “Summer Fun Essentials” package, courtesy of Huggies Little Swimmers. Details are over at PBN. Oh, and don’t forget the sunscreen.
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:18 pm
It’s amazing how pools become the summer version of the mall!
mayberrys last blog post..Iceberg summer
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Darn, there were never any cute lifeguards when I was at the pool. They were always girls.
Heathers last blog post..Alright already!!
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I hope to go see the US Olympic Water Polo team play Canada tomorrow night…I never grew out of liking to look at guys in swimsuits…http://www.usawaterpolo.com/index.php?pr=USA_Men
Suebobs last blog post..Disproportionately Pleasing
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Lifeguards = hot
May 24th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
um, no, i’m not headed to the pool. we still haven’t had warm enough nights to bring the water temps to my standard. plus it’s supposed to rain here all freakin’ week. plus they don’t allow whales in the public pools here.
May 24th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
The pool here at Cannon AFB just opened today!! Yay! I am planning on living at the pool this summer
Haven’t tried on my bathing suit yet. I might be in denial that I have to wear it. I’m still working off baby number three ( she’s five months now!)
-Andrea
Andreas last blog post..Neighborhood advice needed….