It’s been awhile since I’ve spent the morning at the pool. You know how it is, you get busy with tasks, obligations, the requirements of living on the planet, and the next thing you know, you haven’t taken a mental health moment in who knows how long. This morning was going to be my moment.
While I was gathering a towel, beach bag, and water bottle I noticed the lawn maintenance crew had shown up out front. Before I could change into my swimsuit I could hear lawn mowers working outside. Okay, not ideal, but they probably won’t be long. Our apartment complex is large, and they always start with our building first, so I figured a few moments of disruption and they would move on.
By the time I had descended the stairs and rounded the end of the driveway I had encountered the leaf blowers! In my opinion this is a useless tool. You blow leaves from one side of the driveway to the other, wait a week, so the wind can have a chance at them once more, and then show up to do it all over again. This is the top-tier in job security! These machines are seriously loud! What’s more, these guys work as a team, so you don’t have one leaf blower, you have four! That number sends the decibel count into the stratosphere! Heavy sigh, but they shouldn’t be long.
As I approached the pool gate I noted the wind was a notch or two above breezy, yet significantly lower than a gale. It’s not cold out and in fact, the wind would shoo away both humidity and the heat of the Florida sun. Since the pool isn’t heated, this time of year it takes a little grit to get into it. The wind was welcome and would keep me from overheating. However, we live at the end of the Naples airport runway. Once upon a time there was plenty of commercial traffic in here, but that has long since gone. Now we have mostly small planes and private jets, but don’t misinterpret private to mean modest. They are good size! Most of the time, we hardly notice the airport’s proximity, but when the wind is just right those planes use a different runway and then it becomes a game changer. Today they are taking off with their tails toward me, running up their engines as they go through their paces, increasing to that deep rumble as they throttle up while galloping down the runway. Though I don’t mind the sound, this morning I was seeking a serene experience, not an exhilarating one.
I lay my towel across the lounge chair, position my beach pillow, put my water bottle where I can reach it and figure that the planes are probably there to stay, but at least the groundkeepers will soon be working farther away.
Wait! What is this fresh hell that has just arrived upon the scene? A street sweeper? Seriously! They are there to clean up the mess in the driveway left by the city water guys who fixed the water line yesterday. “Beep, Beep, Beep” as he backed up, pulled forward, and backed up again, and again, and again!
I opened my eyes to see an idyllic landscape of swaying palm trees, sunshine, and water. I closed my eyes and heard only a cacophony of assaulting decibels. I had chosen poorly! I should have stayed upstairs! I have a book to finish writing, and taxes to do. No quiet meditative, re-energizing moment was to be had. Instead, I laughed! Good medicine, either way!
Why is someone’s misery funny?!
Well, I don’t know. Perhaps a little introspection is in order, Susan. Perhaps it’s because we’ve all been there, so we can relate. If it makes you feel better….I wasn’t miserable, so feel free to laugh.