Water Traditions

What is a tradition? Something simple such as holding hands before sharing a meal or something seasonal like piling into the car and driving around your local neighborhood admiring holiday decorations (often including a box of chocolates)? By definition a tradition is anything that is a custom, habit or general practice in your family often passed down through generations.

Well…

Welcome to the vandenHof’s world of water traditions. So far, four generations of swimmers have had the pleasure of enjoying water as the backdrop to many family memories.

Luckily for children in the vandenHof family, who generally get as hot and bored in the summer as children in any other family, they are never too far away from a pool during the hot summer months. On most occasions there are many uncles to play with, mothers to splash, cousins to have contests with, and siblings to tease which makes a picture perfect setting for an afternoon in the sun! Mind you, our gatherings still include picky eaters, good bye tears, and the odd temper tantrum because mommy’s watch runs a little fast and that was not nearly five more minutes in the pool. When it’s time for us to all leave, good byes always include an invitation for a quick return. My father’s goodbye words always include, come by for a swim anytime the pools always open. He has learned that these types of invitations usually mean his fridge will most likely get opened as well!

The first Holland Home Leisure pool was in fact a vandenHof pool. So I am a strong believer of a pool being part of our family’s traditions. The styles, the shape, the size of the pools have all changed over the years, but the usage and the purpose has stayed the same. Family! For me and my family, splashing water, warm water, salt water, my brother pushed me in with my clothes on water, still peaceful water, and a quiet rippling of the wind moving the water had been the background to so many memories and family fun. Memories that include holiday celebrations, family gatherings and reunions, staff parties, birthday parties, important conversations and even two wedding receptions. All of these memories include sparking water as a centerpiece.

My summers would not be complete without memories that include water.

 Until next time...

-Liana vandenHof-Rhodenizer