Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Fun in a Box

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                                    Christopher doing his best to squeeze in to one of the many pool boxes.

June 10, 2015


All good things come in a box. I guess, except a car. A new car would be great. But I mean, who places a brand new car in box? Many pleasures can come in a box. Condoms for instance. An ice cream cake, desserts in general. Holidays come in a box. Pick a major holiday and think of all the fun you’ve received out of a box. Food! Chinese food, pizza, cookies, it’s all edible and delicious, except for maybe the box itself. And Cats, who doesn't feel all warm inside when their cat curls up in a shoe box!

Well, I suppose you get the hint that I'm big on all thing in a box . Except maybe, a wooden box, made for your burial, if you elected to meet a gunslinger in the middle of the street in the old American West.

I can think of so many other things but who would of thought, "Gee Chris, what about a pool in a box? Isn't that cool?"

Well, wait no further!

I have wanted an in-ground pool for sometime but I don’t have the 30 or 40,000.00 dollars, it would require, to purchase such a nice item. My boys would love the cool water and the cannonballs from the deck. It’s a luxury I won’t get right now, until, well, I saw the surprise in a square box!

I was at one of the major Big Box stores the other day buying some simple items that makes life pleasurable. And of course most of those items came in boxes that were stocked on the shelves. On my way past the artificial preservatives, sweets, corn syrup, chocolate and other delectable, I noticed, what else, a pool in a box.

 “16x48 above ground pool. It holds 5,000 gallons, has a pump and it is simple to put together,” I said reading some of the print on the face of the box.

Wow! This was better than a cereal box that had a toy inside.

I tried to lift the box into my cart, however, it was 180lbs, and I was all alone trying to place this in my box of a grocery cart.  I needed some help.

I scoured the four corners of the store but couldn’t find anyone. I must have walked over 5,000, square box, tiles, to find an associated to help my buy this thing and load it in my mini-van.

Excitedly I drove home. My boys were going to be ecstatic. Some fun in the sun, while playing in a pool, to keep them cool, from the hot summer days was going to be great.

I parked in the drive way and excitedly exited my car and made my way towards my house. This was going to be glorious. My Nissan Quest looks like a box, and when I automatically open the hatch, and expose the pool inside, it will be like opening a gift.

The first one to greet me by the van was my 5-year old, Christopher.

“A pool! A pool,” he shouted. “Nico! We have a pool come look.

Nico rushed out the front door and to the car.

“Surprise!” Christopher yelled.

They gleefully jumped up in down clearly excited for their new pool in a box.

I dragged the pool across my drive way but damn, I needed help. I called a good friend who helped me with our new summer fun.

“Chris, open the box and carry parts of the pool individually to the area where the pool will be,” he said.

“Crap, that’s smart.”

My friend tore the box open and out fell more boxes. The pool liner, square. The pool cover, square. The pump and accessories square and square. My god I’m getting overwhelmed.

I piled up the pieces I need. Open all the boxes, laid my pieces out and began to build my pool.

1st I located a flat, square, place in my yard.
2nd I laid the structure out and begin to build the sides
3rd I put the legs on the sides of the pool structure. <click> the square pegs locked into place. and lifted the vinyl and sides up in the air
4th I walked around the pool and steadied the rectangular legs so they’d be even space
5th filled the pool with water.

This was going to be fun. The boys were so excited they were already standing naked ready to jump in.

“Umm, guys, we have several hours until this fills up with water. Put your clothes back on until it’s ready to play in.”

We walked back inside. The boys were clearly disappointed. They were ready to jump in. The hours ticked away. 1 hour down but then there was another hour, up, then that hour would pass and we’d have to wait another hour. Slowly but surely, like cooking a turkey, the pool painfully filled with water. The anticipation was agonizing. Until I heard the yells.

“Daddy! Daddy! Come see,” Nico said.

I peered out the window and saw the water was high enough to enjoy the pool, finally.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Get dressed and lets go swimming!”

They were breathless and almost tripped on each other trying to get in. First Nico, then Christopher and I followed in behind them.

“See boys what did I tell ya, this is great, right.”

“Yes daddy,” Nico said.

“I mean come on, pool fun that came in a square box. All things fun comes in a square box. You can’t beat this.”

“But daddy,” Christopher said, “the pool’s round.”


The pool is round.

     
                                   

Added on June 9, 2016 from March 2016

           
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