Everyone Out of the Pool and into the Surf!

This morning began the first day of the Nancy and Karen Surf Camp. We had five kids to teach the basics of surfing to, ages five to twelve. Yikes. We loaded up the boards in Karen's Surf and Sand riddled Volvo, and headed off to Sea Colony, where the rich folk live. We were supposed to meet at the "Pool House" at nine. At nine, the pool gates were locked, red tape wrapped around them, with a sign that read, "Pool closed." There was something about a shock treatment, whatever that meant. We would find out soon enough. The kids showed up, with three moms in tow, minutes later, and we learned why the pool was closed. It seemed that someone used the pool for a toilet the day before, and one of our students found the specimen. He was swimming along and surfaced, smiling, showing everyone the rock he had found in the pool. "THAT"S NOT A ROCK!" someone screamed. And, that is how the pool was closed for shock treatment. So, off we trundled, down the boardwalk, to the beach. The kids listened to our lecture about everything from sharks to trash on the beach, and then we hit the water. Right away we could see that Nicholas, McKenzie, and Julia were our star pupils. They were the oldest, and also had the biggest boards. Isabel wanted the smaller foam board because she felt she could manage it, but it was not helping her to get to her feet. Our five year old was the most stubborn and outspoken of the lot, with his own ideas about everything. I had seen this before. Give him time, I said. His mom said he was like his dad. It's all about control, she smiled. In the end we had so much fun. Julia was hysterical, and was fearless, ending with a dance on the board as she surfed along. She asked me to show her my "moves," so I took the board and paddled out to catch one, riding it in right next to her, smiling. Nicholas was beaming. His mom told me he had tried all last summer, and had not gotten to his feet. Today he was doing it, and with style! McKenzie, his sister, was getting to her feet instantly. They all seemed happy in the end. And, that's what it is all about, folks. Let's hear it for FUN. Same time, same place tomorrow, kids. Practice those pop-ups!