My Fountain

No, Not the Fountain of Youth

Our amazing classic 1898 four-square called out for a fountain in the front yard. Did they have fountains in 1898? How the hell would I know? I’m just telling you, it needed a fountain, so, I got a resin, solar powered, three-tiered, pineapple (sign for “Welcome”) on top fountain.

Oh, oh, oh! The soft tricking of the water from tier to tier, is a meditation unto itself. Now, the morning after I got it, I rushed outside just to see it again and…what the h, e, double hockey sticks???? The water looked like something that should be labeled “Caution, Flesh Eating Bacteria” punctuated by purple bird poop on the largest tier!! (We have blueberry bushes in the front yard).

What?? What??? My dream fountain was a stagnant pool of yuck and I needed to get to work but oh, I put that hose nozzle on “Jet” setting and blasted the hell out of each tier.

I got centrifugal force going, and out sloshed the grey/green swill, off flew the purple poop and when I was done, the damn solar pump did not work. Damnit, damnit, damnit! I only had time to clean my hands, and go to work. I would have to address the pump, which I probably broke in all my rage and water blasting, after work.

Luckily, on the way home, I had my daughter with me, and she is so much more mechanical than I and not outraged at what she proclaimed was “not the fault of the animals as this is their sole water source.” Okay, that may be true, but you don’t POOP in your sole water source!!!

She took the tiny pump apart, did some stuff to it and voila’, it worked again. Oh, I had to clean out the tiers yet again prior to her fitting it back in the smallest entry known to mankind. Who designed this? A Lilliputian?

Day two, and it’s the weekend. I have more time to ponder this dilemma and decided to push the fountain back, where it looked better anyway, place the decorative fencing (period appropriate as it’s made from metal) in a lovely curve, made sure to fence the back in too so the groundhog family cannot eat all the plants that will surround my fountain, and what do you know? Somehow, this new placement has stopped the purple poop incidents and I am seeing small song birds drink sips and stand under the water like a little shower…aww, look at them!

Apparently, the Swill Makers are put off by the new placement and the fencing, but the little song birds are not. I do clean it out each morning. I mean, who doesn’t want fresh water? My daughter and I shopped for plants and placed them (still in pots) for a weekend planting/mulching session to finish this magical space. Oh, my starry stars, I have a fountain in my front yard!! I have a fountain, I have lush plantings, and it is SUMMER!!!! Oh, School’s Out for Summer! (Click for the song link)

Our principal at Frankfurt Junior High (in Germany) played that song over the PA system in 1975. We all sang along. I mean it was such a classic moment. I can tell you, in 1975, having a fountain in front of my house, would not have given me the joy it does now. And that’s alright. What did I wear all that Summer of ‘75 (because, it was Germany…not warm, folks), T-shirts, jeans and bare feet. How am I dressed right now? T-shirt with a Peace sign, jeans, bare feet. And…I’ve got a fountain.

Is there something that gives you joy? I’d love to hear about it. Oh, and enjoy the song! I know I did just listening to it now, just as I did in 1975.

Damnit…time for laundry. Oh, I am thankful for the washer and dryer downstairs, lest you think I am ungrateful whiner. Hey, share this piece if you feel so inclined. Thank you!