So Cal Diving

"Mom! Do you have any coins for us to dive for?"

My kids are splashing around in their Aunty D's pool, which is empty except for the two of them. It's like their own private oasis, here in sunny California. The rest of the gated community is at work, while we are on vacation and soaking up the UV rays. Aside from one action packed day at Disneyland, our trip to my childhood hometown has been very low-key. We spent a couple days making the circuit from the pool to Pinkberry, another day visiting with my cousins at the beach in the LB, another day at the LA County Museum of Art to see the Price collection of Japanese art, followed by ramen for lunch back in Torrance and a visit to the Redondo Beach dog park -- and all the in-between times filled with my kids being indulged by their obaachan (grandmother).

I empty the change pocket of my wallet, and toss ten coins into the pool. Six quarters, two pennies, a nickel and a dime. One dollar and sixty-seven cents. A buck sixty-seven does not buy much these days, but it is good for several dives to the bottom of the pool and at least a few summer memories for my kids. Chances are good that this handful of change will be remembered at least as much -- if not more than -- the four hundred dollars we just dropped at Disneyland the other day. Yes, it is the simple little pleasures that often make our summers special; joy has no price tag, and memories seem to have an inverse correlation to the amount of time, effort and money one's parents have put into making a "special" day for a child.

As I am writing this, I realize that this is ironic in a bad way. All of a sudden, I feel exhausted.

Better get some sleep. Interstate 5 is waiting for me.