A Dip in the Pool (January)

Today when I got back from visiting Mother, Larry said, "the Milam kids came over and wanted to see our pool because theirs is frozen, and sure enough, ours is too." So we went outside for him to show me. I had changed into sweats but still had on slippers. The pool wasn't frozen solid, but it had a crust of ice on top. The kids had wanted to walk on it, but Larry vetoed that plan.

So, Larry and I took poles and started breaking up the ice. You had to hit it pretty hard, and I guess I got too enthusiastic, and when I hit an area that was thinner than I expected, the pole went through, and with that forward momentum going, I followed it. Going underwater in freezing water is a shocking experience! Thankfully I was near the ladder, which I grabbed and climbed out.

(you can see the ladder in top right of this picture).

Larry came over to rescue me, but he was laughing too hard to be very helpful. I wanted to run to the house, but the water had been such a shock to the system that I could hardly breathe, so it was more a shuffle than a run. Larry got the bathroom heater on and a hot bath going, so I was able to soak and thaw out.

I don't think I'll ever want to try lobster fishing in the North Atlantic, like on the 'Deadliest Catch.' Texas cold is cold enough! Oh yeah, the slippers stayed in the pool, but the earrings stayed on and the watch still works!