HELP!

I don't mean S.O.S. either.  I mean the kids that worked this summer for the parks department and/or aquatic center.

The pool.

We'll go through a bad year that it seems everything is going wrong, no one can work, they don't do it right or half-assed.  I would become angry and dad's words would ring in my ears, "If you want something done right, do it yourself!"  Those words were never aimed at me, my siblings heard them quite often.  Ahem.  I would finish the job and then be angry that I should've made them do it until they did it right.

The sad thing is, you remember the bad times.

This year, at the pool, I hired a lot of new kids with old thrown into the mix.  I do have to say they did a fine job.  There were a few problems but they were learning the ins and outs of the place and what was expected of them.  I will admit there is a couple that still have that deer in the headlights look when I walk in.  I want to laugh but I don't.

I might have to pick up a candy wrapper or two in the hallway when they've walked by them a dozen or so times.  That's aggravating.  I really hate to remind them to grab a bag and pick up trash.  You can see it out the concession window, go pick it up, please.

All in all though, the pool assistants did a good job despite a few reminders.

Onto the lifeguards.  I was worried earlier that I wouldn't have enough guards for the summer and the old guards would be so worn out.  I ended up with some new ones.  The old showed them the ropes and it worked out pretty well.  Again, there were a few glitches but everything worked out.

If it weren't for Nikki, Karson, Brady, Laura, Whitney and Taryn, I would be spending some time in a soft cell somewhere.  I couldn't be in two or three places at once and I basically turned the pool over to them,  I knew in my mind they would do well and I shouldn't worry.  I did worry at first.  The pool makes me nervous.  I know what it's like to be sitting in that chair, kids screaming, there's always at least one you have to watch more closely because they're going to do something stupid that could end up in an injury either for themselves or others, while you're watching for someone in distress.

When I walk in, Karson is diluting a parents anger over the phone because their child was kicked out for two weeks and it's the hottest part of the summer.  Never mind that he had ample warning, it was his second offense breaking the same rule and no one called the week before when the temperature was in the 60's.  Karson was very diplomatic, his tone was even, and very clear about the kids' punishment.  And I always back them up on the punishments.  I respect their decisions, that's the way it is. 

I think I stressed Nikki out a bit at first.  I really dumped the responsibilty on her and Karson this year.  They handled it perfectly.  They didn't put up with anyone's crap including other guards.  I didn't have a zillion phone calls because they didn't know what to do.  They handled each problem as they came along.  I let them make the decisions and it's what I would've done.  WWTD?  Short of smacking some kid in the head...

I still had to do chemical readings or send one of the kids from here to do them.  Check the chlorine but don't touch the acid.  Dave doesn't want us doing that.  He doesn't even want us in that room, it dangerous.  I think we helped Dave a bit this year also.  He's very busy and doesn't have time to do chores that we can.

The parks department.

That would be Jeffrey, Hailee, Matthew, Michael and Clayton.  I usually call them by their full name.

Mostly Matt and Jeff readied the ball diamonds this summer but the rest have done it also.  That was five days a week, all over town, nine diamonds.  I did the two Saturday morning diamonds so they didn't have to crawl out of bed so early because game time was 9:00.

Jeff, Hailee, and Mike would work the concession stand at the complex five nights and some weekends.  Most evenings they didn't clock out until 9 or later depending on the ball game even though they would come in at 9:00 in the morning.  John would help.  It was a busy place.  Thankfully we had music playing.  Then the dancing and singing would start and we didn't really care if we were good at it or if anyone was watching.  It was fun, we laughed at each other.  A lot.

No matter what they were doing, if I asked them to please go do this or that, they jump up, Jeff will say, "That's what we're here for!" or Matt would say, "Right away, boss!"  It cracks me up.  I will miss that. 

I don't know if I can thank them enough or let them know how much lighter my load was because of them.  This may have been the easiest summer I've had even though I worked alongside them.  They made it fun, they made it easy. 

The middle of August is going to suck when they head back to college or high school.  I will be alone.  While I like peace and quiet, I will have to adjust to the fact they won't be in to make me laugh, sing, dance or tick me off.  On the other hand, they won't make fun of my playlist.

A big thank you to all of them.  I will miss you.  And yes, I will cry.