I have a great affection for swimming pools. Jumping into refreshing, crystal clear waters in Southern California has always had a way to soothe my senses. I've noticed when my Seattle friends realized that I had a swimming pool in my backyard in Burbank, they appeared to be envious, wondering why someone like me should actually have pool. I would remind them that having a pool down here is not uncommon. In fact, due to the heat, our pools are often not heated. So, I would invite them to join me for a dip into my pool, as I invite T-Boy readers to enjoy my below prose.

In Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, the mythical Greek character Odysseus builds a raft and attempts to return to his home island of Ithaca. But Odysseus' enemy, Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, unleashes a storm and the raft is destroyed. Half-drowned, Odysseus washes ashore on the island of Corfu. He staggers into an olive grove and collapses.