One last post concerning our time in the Alpilles.
The experience still feels so close to me, the joy has remained in my heart. And the quiet too. Such a welcoming home and grounds. Perched on a hill and yet surrounded by pines for privacy, it is its own little kingdom. I do miss the pool, terribly. While I am not a proficient swimmer (typical Leo, I hold my head above the water line en permanence), I am so content to float and bob. My Mother reminded me recently that when I was teeny, I would stay in at the public pool until I was blue and chattering. One idea that occurred to me while I was doing my Esther Williams style twists (red-painted toes up! Towards the sky!), was that being in the pool, in the deep end, was an opportunity for surrender. Nothing below with just trust to keep me buoyed. Similarly with that first, sharp inhale followed by a swift dive to embrace the cold. There is nothing to do but surrender to it. How seldom that is the case in our daily lives, or rather, how seldom we allow ourselves such an opportunity.
Although I clearly thrilled over my pool time, it was Ben, our Golden Retriever that was the champion nageur. I was so grateful when our friend assured me that he was allowed. Poor Ben had never had the great connection to water that is normally his birthright as a Golden. Perhaps it is our fault, taking him to the sea when he was only a six-month-old pup. Those waves scared him. But it was not the case with this gradually descending pool and it was delightful to watch his first tentative bats at the water’s surface with his paw. And certainly, where we go, he goes, so how could he resist? The first few days he was breathing awkwardly, drinking the (happily barely chlorinated) water in gulps as he went. Slowly, with time, he taught himself and even jumped off the side twice! He would literally shiver with joy while swimming, grunting as he paddled. Such joy is, of course, contagious.
In the evenings, Ben and I would make one last visit to the pool side to watch the sunset spread across, reaching towards the night with willowy fingers. A family of miniscule bats would come to drink, barely touching down on the waters surface, dancing all around us. Again, trust that their radar was working, that they wouldn’t splat into us (something that actually did happen to me once pre-dawn at Angkor but that is another story). They did not and as night took its victory we would amble up the hill towards the light beckoning on the porch.
So here we are, already drinking in the last rays of summer. Let’s toast to them while they still shine on.
Clare, that is all I did! Make the trip up to the house, get another glass of rosé, that effort made me warm enough that it was time to get back in the pool, which made me thirsty…
And yes, David, we ladies here like our tipple! Oh la, it is the water of life after all…Again, sending you safe thoughts as Irene approaches.
Vicki, I think that you are the ambassadrice for the Alpilles!
You know I am hooked on the Alpilles Heather! Lovely shots….xv
hmmm….reading over these comments?….my first consideration is that there seem to be a lot of ladies here who like their drink.
If one of you starts banging out ragtime dance-tunes on the piano, "Lost in Arles" is going to suddenly turn into the sort of joint my mother said I was never allowed to visit.
Warily yours as ever,
david Terry
http://www.davidterryart.com
This place looks simply magical, Heather!! I don't think I'd ever leave that pool either… except to grab another glass of wine 🙂
~ Clare x
What a fine group of friends I have here–I can't help but imagine getting together with all of you for sunset drinks and chatting into the night!
Thanks again for your comments and yipee! I won something! It's a miracle! 🙂
Hi Heather, it's Sonny's friend Julie in St. Remy. You've won the most recent book giveaway on my blog ProvencePost.com. I need your mailing address please. Hope to meet you one day soon!
You saved the best till last, in this remembrance of a beautiful holiday.
On a hot, hot day, is there nothing more exquisite than allowing oneself the luxury of sinking into velvety cool, cool water? Delicious.
And while your summer fades, I can see spring sunshine out of my window, reflected in golden wattle and white camelias and daffodils…as just a little reminder of the warmth of summer sunshine and the icy contrast of a pool this beautiful. Enjoy the last weeks of summer! Virginia x