POOL FRIENDS, A GIFT OF SUMMER.

Pool friends. A unique relationship of summer. The bonds are made by warm weather, the smells of chlorine and sunscreen, and unspoken promises not to laugh at you in a swim suit. These friends share the best of times. Lazy days relaxing in a beach chair, good foods and junk foods, and stories of vacations both simple and exotic. Sure there is the occasional complaint about the weather and how fast the summer is going by, but generally these friendships are positive and intimate. What else could they be, they were formed while sitting in a bathing suit.

These are the people that accept you whether you sit baking in the sun or following the illusive shade. They understand if you sit by yourself after greeting them because they know the pleasure of the rare quite moment to read a book. They will also welcome your company when you finish. They will stop in mid sentence while you chase small child heading too close to deep water, and pick up again once you resume a comfortable pose. They don't care if you do not get wet all summer.

When our children were young we had daily meetings at the pool. Like punching a clock, we arrived with regular, predictable schedules and sat in our usual seats. As our children grew, we found new freedom, allowing them to attend the pool unchaperoned while we catch up on long overdue chores. Now, we make a special effort to see our pool friend, scheduling appointments and pot lucks. Never the less, these dates are just as relaxing and fun.

We spend the winter counting how many days until the pool opens and our summers counting how many days we have left. While sitting with our pool friends, we can enjoy the day or evening with out worrying about tomorrow. Farewell until next season.

Art in the Patapsco.

A most interesting phenomenon in the Patapsco River as you cross over the bridge into Ellicott City. Rocks and sticks transformed into sculpture. About a month ago, a creative member of the Friends of the Patapsco Valley spent a Saturday, stacking rocks and sticks into towers, statues, some resembling people. His feats did not go unnoticed. People were stopping on the bridge to take a look. Some of the local kids joined in and the "sculpture garden" began to expand even further up the stream. These talented kids made even more challenging designs, using sticks to create balances with various size rocks across the level. The onlookers increased, with tourists and photographers standing on the bridge almost everyday. I have even seen some people wade into the river to be photographed among the statues.

On my daily trips by the scene, I watch and keep tabs on their progress. I even stopped to take pictures. On a couple of occasions, rain, high waters or vandals, knocked down every one of the creations. I am happy to report, on each one of the occasions, the artists returned to create another series.

The local press has taken note, photographing and interviewing this creative bunch. Keep an eye out in the View or Howard Live Magazine.

Thank you to this un-named group of artist who have brought wonder, joy and anticipation to so may strangers.

More Articles on this topic. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.river18jul18,0,6114487.story

Another Fabulous 4th of July in Catonsville!

I always tell people I meet "Catonsville owns 4th of July. The rest of the country just doesn't know it!" Every year this thought is renewed. From the games at the high school, to the concerts, parade and fireworks, I challenge, who does this holiday better than Catonsville?

When you are sitting on the curb for the parade (because you didn't have a chance to put out you chair last week), the crowd is shouting to all of their friends and neighbors participating in the one mile walk down Frederick Rd. The predicatability of the participants is also something, my kids look forward to seeing. They know they will see our neighbor in his historic car, the CHS steel drum Band and the Bumii Temple riders on the vehicles. Not to mention all the firetrucks! I am sure anticipating this one day a year is the reason people live on a busy street like Frederick Rd the other 364.

Not even the threat of showers could keep Catonsville from the fireworks. We don't know how spoiled we are to witness a fabulous 45 minute show. Last year, we went "down-ey Ocean hun" on July 5 (my kids refused to leave town for the 4th) and witnessed the rain date for Ocean City fireworks on the boardwalk. After the 15 minutes of display, the show was over and my family remarked "Was that it?" Few towns or cities can boast a fireworks event like ours which is funded and staged completely by volunteers. We should even marvel at the cooperation of the police to direct the same traffic patterns every year so you know exactly which route to use and how long it will take to get home .

The flags on every street, the snowball stop at the Candy Box, even the rain shower at 5pm each year as the end of the parade passes by, these are the tradition of Catonsville 4th of July that make this town special.