When I was kid, I loved the river, the lake, the ocean . . . pretty much any body of water that I could wade and swim in was good for me.
Since living in Salem-land, well, I hadn’t really located a place that I felt comfortable letting the boys play, as well as be close enough to walk/jog or drive a very short distance.
Well, I did and I have. Its, round trip, 6 miles . . . walk-jog it normally . . . the river near downtown Salem. We cross over the foot bridge and head down into Wallace park where there is a good chunk of rock strewn beach and shallow and protected river way for the boys to play in quite safely.
We never really worried about currents and such in rivers when I was kid. I don’t remember my parents ever mentioning undertows and weird currents that can cause problems for swimming in rivers . . . and, at the exception of one time being drug under after jumping in feet first into a rather large rapid . . . have never experienced anything really all that dangerous in my river-swimming-exploits. BUT, I am, and have been for 8 years, married to an EMT/fireman that is also on a volunteer flotilla for the Coast Guard . . . he is paranoid of such currents and happenings that can occur in a river unseen. Especially in large rivers such as the Willamette here in Salem. SO, my boys wear life jackets in the shallows and I am particularly picky about the current.
All that said, I’ve found nearly the perfect spot for two tots to play, myself to read and watch them and for Byron to wear himself out as well. I say nearly because the only thing I would change is that the location would be OUTside of town, with no foot bridges and highway bridges going overhead. Thats all. But otherwise, it is surrounded by parks on either side of the river and it is a lovely spot.
AND, when I finally get my stinkin’ computer to quit being bratty, I’ll upload and share photos . . . I will, promise. 🙂
The river, that is where were today, from 11am to 1:30pm and I got a nice bit of exercise in too . . . can’t beat that. 🙂
Nothing really going on today outside of that.
Yesterday, at Justin’s prodding, we spent the afternoon “spring cleaning” our house, shipping stuff off the Goodwill and all of that fun stuff. I grouched and moaned, drug my feet a bit, but finally got into the spirit of it after awhile. It was the storage room that needed it the most and I find it tedious and irritating to go through stuff for shipping off. I would much rather scrub the main part of the house down, do laundry . . . anything . . . stashing unused items out of sight (storage area). But its done now and it feels good to know it is.
Looking forward to school shopping this weekend. Supplies, shoes and clothes, exciting! 🙂 Though, I will confess I am apprehensive with Tob being in a “real” school and sending Sam off to preschool . . . ACk! I know why homeschooling is so attractive to people. I want to keep them close, I do! I just know I don’t have it in me to be disciplined enough and be a good enough teacher. My mind wanders all over tarnation . . . how am I suppose to focus two young tots? So, off to school they go, come fall. AACK! Oh, and I will say, after seeing the positives in Tob during and after preschool last year, the benefits outweighed the worries.
The one super negative with fall coming up so quickly is my summer weather will end . . . swimming in the river will have to commence until next years sun. Ahh, the thought makes me wanna bawl like baby.
I might buy tans. Something I haven’t done since I was a youngster (20-ish). I know the dangers, but my skin is so much prettier baked.
Heres to whats left of summer!
Mother Tucker 