Running Through Sprinklers

Before swimming pools became a ubiquitous part of the landscape, and on days we didn't go to Graydon Pool, we often cooled ourselves on a hot day by simply running through and around a portable lawn sprinkler. There were mostly two types in those days, before automated lawn irrigation systems sent the manual kinds to the back of the garage or the garbage can. There was the oscillating sprinkler that featured an oscillating spray bar which evenly douses a rectangular area.

There was also the spike which shot water in a circle.

In the case of both of these stalwarts of the irrigation industry the the initial intent was to get wet slowly by dodging the direct spray when it came your way. Eventually we would tire of this running around and simply let either a wave or a direct blast cool us off.

We also used to drink from the hose which was connected to the sprinklers, without a thought in the world as to the quality of the water. Lucky for us in Ridgewood this wasn't an issue but I would be hard pressed to want to do the same today. The bottled water industry has done its work too well and I either drink from plastic or from a filtered tap. I've also been scared away from water fountains, both inside and outside varieties. Its funny to think we used to line up as kids to drink at these fountains, and to no doubt share germs good and bad with one another.

Such pleasures as I am describing make me wonder at what point they lost their appeal and became work instead of a form of play. If I had to guess the moment, it probably occurred the first time I was asked to move one of the sprinklers in our yard by one of my parents. Play usually happens when no force exists to urge you to do something. Work is comprised of those activities you are being directed to do. Even the ones you once did gladly to cool your heals, and to hear yourself and your friends squeal in delight at the first drops of water as they grazed your sun baked bodies.