Squishy Eyes

We went swimming on Monday. We had all been doing too much sitting! So I announced to Melissa that we would go to the pool. She does love to swim, and started getting her towel and suit together right away. She was even tolerant of James who chatted away as we drove to the pool. As we pulled in to the parking lot, I saw the cars filling each space, and wondered why the big crowd? After we hiked to the front counter from the far edge of the parking lot, toting towels and dodging raindrops, we discovered that we were an hour early! My stomach knotted...I glanced at Melissa, who only a few years ago would have had a melt down at that news. "Oh well," I said. "We'll come back. What shall we do for a while? Do you want to go to the Goodwill?" "Sure." she said, a perfect model of patience and flexibility. Wow. How times have changed.
We browsed the bookshelves of Goodwill and killed some time, then returned to splash and soak and float and stretch our cooped up bodies in the water. Melissa smiled the whole time, spraying James with the noodle tube and tossing a ball with me, happy and having fun. It was so good to see her out of her room. Even if I  have put on some Thanksgiving dinner pounds and don't look like a swimsuit model...it's just the neighborhood pool, I'm just watching James jump off the diving board a zillion times, just hearing the echo of 'Marco - Polo" from the kids as they play.
So we were done, and we got out and hit the showers...Melissa singing "We Are the Champions!" as she changed, curious choice of a theme song, but I guess she was feeling on top of the world. When we arrived at home, she said "It sure was nice to spend some time with you!" and then she did something she hasn't done since she was four. She leaned her forehead into mine and gazed straight into my eyes...and laughed. We used to play this game all the time when she was so much tinier. "Squishy Eyes!" I remember saying to her as she sat on my lap, face on my face in a mommy and daughter hug. What a great way to end the day, relaxed from my swim and reconnected with my Melissa. We are the Champions, my friend.