Zen and the Act of Pool Cleaning

In the summer of 1969 I was eleven, going on twelve and living at Casa de Pajaro. In those days, it was Uncle Robert and Auntie Zoe's house. I lived there with my brother Mark; cousins Bobby and Teresa and Robert and Zoe. It was hands down the very best summer of my youth.

Most days were spent in the swimming pool, playing "keep away" with a frisbee (boys against the girls); seeing how long you could hold your breath under the water, who could swim the farthest under the water without taking a breath; making funny hair styles and even skinny dipping a night. All good things do not come without cost. Auntie Zoe had each of us kids take a turn skimming the pool for leaves. At age eleven, the huge 10' pool skimmer pole was difficut to manouver and I would do just about anything to get out of doing the job. I just couldn't stand looking at the pool, skimming leaves with the big clumsy pole and net, while what I really wanted was to dive into the crystal blue pool water. I would pay my brother to take my turn or trade other duties like gardening to get out of the skimming chore.

In the summer of 2008, I am here on my own most of the time, so I am the only one skimming the pool. It really needs to be done at least once a day as the grounds of Casa de Pajaro are covered with trees. The trees are beautiful, but the leaves fall daily. I don't mind skimming the pool anymore. It is a very "zen" action, like raking sand. The water is calm and still when I begin. I like to start in a corner and work my way aroung the pool skimming the leaves, grass seeds, fallen bees and flies into the basket on the end of the pole. It has become my meditation time. I think of nothing else but the next leaf to skim. The result is very rewarding - a clean pool and a calm mind.