PUDDLE POTENTIAL

"And you know what Grandma?  When we go to town next time I'm going to get some new rubber boots!"

He made it sound like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy all rolled up into one.  There is nothing better than a new pair of rubber boots when the snow is melting down and the puddles are filling up.  He seems to have the idea that these new boots will keep his feet dry, not realizing that it's not the little cracks and holes at the bottom of his old boots that are letting the water in, but those big holes at the top of each boot that are to blame.

Somehow, some way, no matter which boots you buy, they are always that magical, mystical one half inch too short.  Trust me, I've done a lifetime of study in this field; I know it's crazy, but it's true.

Puddles bring out the kid in all of us.

Is it the peaceful feeling of standing in still water, contemplating life's simple pleasures?

Is it the venturing into the unknown ... how deep does this get?  How far can I go?

Is it a journey to the other side of the water, just to see if you can make it?  And what if it's not a simple pool, but a running stream?  Isn't it fun to stand in the turbulence and feel the current push against your legs, the moving water hypnotizing you until you almost fall over?

It's also very cool to toss stones out into the water to watch the ripples expand and subside.  For a little more excitement you can encourage the dog to go fetch them.  Or, you can use really big rocks that Grandma can discover later on ... with the lawn mower.  She likes that.

How about testing spray patterns?  If you ride your bike through a puddle very fast, can you get your brother even wetter?  And there's nothing better than a bike on training wheels so you can just park it in a mud puddle and pedal as fast as you can, shooting up a rooster tail of icy water.  (Thanks Grandpa; it's twice as much fun now that he knows the term 'rooster tail')

And, of course, the most compelling invitation of all ... to see just how high your boots really are.  The answer is always the same ... not tall enough ... but it never stops us from trying, and trying again.  When it comes to puddles we are all five years old.

I have to admit though, snow melt puddles - plentiful as they may be - are not my favourite.  Summer puddles are much more my style.  There is no more need for boots.  A girl can roll up her pant legs, kick off her shoes, and wade right in wiggling her toes in the soft, squishy, warm mud with the sunshine on her shoulders and probably a muddy little hand holding one of hers to help keep their balance.  Although if they fall over and get their clothes all wet, that's just one more memory they'll make that day.

It just so happens that this excited young man and his new rubber boots (plus his younger brother and his correspondingly shorter rubber boots) are coming for a sleepover next weekend.  We are at the height of runoff season at the moment with the mud/water/snow ratio at about equal parts in the yard.  I know for a fact that the water is over everyone's boots and the river running through the yard could easily wash a three year old away.  Constant surveillance is going to be needed.

Knowing the mess one dog can make I'm not too sure how this expansion in the mud lovers society is going to go.  Do they have enough clothes to last a weekend?  Can my washing machine keep up?  Is Grandpa going to be a help, or a hindrance?  And I better check out whether I need new rubber boots too.