10 Years

I managed to get the basement cleaned out and have an hour or so to spend I the back yard. I am in the middle of tearing down the play structure. I never did get it finished and it is starting to rot so I need to deal with it.

It’s sad in a few ways. Mostly because it means the kids are growing up and don’t use it anymore. As I sat on the floor with boards all over the place, I remembered so clearly how excited I was to build it. 10 years ago. It was started as a present for The Boy’s 3rd birthday.

So much has changed.

The structure was my own design and was built in among existing trees. A ladder up to one platform. A step up to the second platform. At the meeting point of the two platforms there was another ladder to a narrow walkway between the trees. It lead to a smaller third platform and form that was a circular slide. Under the walkway were 2 swings and rocket glider. The swings and slide area was a huge sand pit.

A few years ago we had to take down everything but the first two platforms to have the pool installed.

The slide got moved to the far end of the platforms and re attached and a small sand pit was build. I was going to add a roof and turn it into a little house for The Girl, but then all projects ground to a halt with the separation and the divorce.

By the time the duct settled, most of the trees surrounding the play structure were dead form Dutch Elm disease and had to be removed. Then there was the move to Texas and finally the move home this summer.

So here I sit, 10 years later on a half built structure. The kids have grown up a bit and are healthy and happy. The pool is amazing and gets plenty of use. I have a new husband and have never been happier. A few more trees have had to be removed. There is only one elm left. In another year the structure will be gone and the area will be landscaped. The kids will probably be too old to bug me about building their new clubhouse, but I might do it anyway. If I do, I am definitely using screws.