June 29, 2009 Fatherhood

I'd like to hear a motion for the 90 plus degree heat to go away until we need it sometime next January. The kids and I last weekend went to the city owned pool and it began to bring back memories of "Alex Lake" that was also known as Tally Valley Park. Why it was called a lake has always been a mystery to me because it was a large swimming pool made of concrete and cement. There were three diving boards, well actually there were two diving boards and a high dive. Jumping off the high dive as a lad was a rite of passage to many of us. Phillip Eidson, our long time city manager perfected the triple gainer cannon ball jack knife that once splashed out 4,000 gallons of water from the pool. The jukebox at the pavilion seemed to always be playing "I Get Around" by the Beach Boys or Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs big hit "Wooly Bully". Dave "Baby" Cortez had a huge instrumental hit that I remember from that jukebox "The Happy Organ". The pool had a concession stand that was manned by Alex's mother-in-law Mrs. Head where you could get a Zero or Payday candy bar or a bag of Fritos for a dime. As memory serves me correctly they had a Royal Crown Cola machine where a bottle would set you back ten cents. People would have picnics on the grounds on many weekends. Tallapoosa schools also had class day during the month of May where each class would have a picnic and have swimming for a good part of the day. If your class had their picnic early in the month, the water was real cold. Drek Dingler once brought an ice pick to get into the pool. Harvey Nixon taught me how to swim in that pool. Harvey taught many of us how to swim at "Alex Lake". I understand that one of Harvey's sons is a general in the United States Army. I would really love to walk those hallowed grounds again sometime. The fifty cent admission charge was great because that is how much money my grandmother Mamanier would give me for cutting the yard before she paroled me for the day to go to the swimming pool. I a lso remember swimming more than once in the Tallapoosa River on fishing trips with Scotty and Cohen McClain. Actually I was the one swimming because I would fall in trying to retrieve my baited hook from a tree limb that hung over the river. Tallapoosa provided me with a lot of great times during the summer months. I didn't know anyone who lived on our street that had air conditioning. Our house was cooled by big box fans that during June, July, and August made our house sound like a hanger at Hartsfield-Jackson International or the engine test room at Lockheed. Learning to swim was important to my mother and she was forever grateful to Harvey Nixon for teaching me how to swim. I am pretty proud papa these days because my daughters took swimming lessons earlier this month and now love the water. Presley Frances named for Elvis because he was an example of how far you can go in this country. Elvis showed us that a Southern boy with talent who worked hard could become a world wide phenomenon. Frances was for my mother who believed in hard work and sacrificed for my education and she insisted that I stay out of Fat Gentry's Pool Room until I was 30. Presley Frances Jones is turning 7 this coming Tuesday. Presley taught me the concept of unconditional love. Presley is now a third generation Tallapoosan. She loves our town because of how friendly people are here. For her birthday I am having a pool put in at the house on Rhubarb Lane. Actually it is made of plastic, cost 30 bucks at Wal Mart, and holds just enough water to get her and her baby sister Callie wet. I am looking forward to a long 4th of July weekend coming up. Celebrating the independence of the greatest nation on Earth in the greatest town I know of is a blessing.