Thanks for the replies.
Ok, I have two lines coming up out of the ground, each with it's own shutoff valve. The 2 then go up a few inches and combine into 1 which then goes horizontally into the pump. I do NOT have any other valves at the skimmer, etc.... So yes, when I put the hose into the pump basket...the water goes right back into the pool. I shut off the valve going to the skimmer (the one mentioned above) and run the hose for a while and then shut the door to the pump real fast and turn it on. Within 5 mintues I have water coming in and then I slowly open the valve to the skimmer up. Again, this takes several minutes. Finally both of them are flowing.

As far as keeping prime: I have automatic shutoff every night so I'm not losing prime as it is always pumping fine in the morning. I only have the problem if I open the pump basket....and I was told not to shut off the pump when turning it to backwash so I wouldn't have to prime it again. (ALTHOUGH, I'm not really sure that it would actually lose prime....I've never tested it). And yes, the direction on the filter say not to move the lever to backwash, etc unless the pump is off.....

Hopefully, that helps clear it up a little bit. I guess it's really not that big of a deal, I just didn't know if everyone else has the same problem or if there was an easy fix.

thanks again!