My Instead: I jumped off a swing
just like when I was a kid, along with my grandson Tyler.
On Friday night, Tyler and I went to
see the movie “Lucy” (bizarre flick about brain capacity). And as is usually
the case, he spent the night with me. My cupboards typically resemble those of
Mother Hubbard, so the next morning we made our familiar pilgrimage to Quick
Trip for doughnuts.
Unfortunately, I had to work that
Saturday to stay caught up with all my jobs, but Tyler and I carved out just enough
time to explore a nearby park (Bicentennial Park) that
the two of us had never visited together before. We took a few
minutes to devour our doughnuts and then he immediately went to the swing to
perform his version of a trapeze act. Like most of us have done in our
childhood, he got up as high as he could swing and then jumped off, flying high
into the air. He did it a few more times, then we decided to hike the nature trail.
Frustrated with myself, I asked Tyler, “Now why didn’t I jump off the swing?” Doing
and not just watching is the course I want to follow this year, after all! I
constantly have to remind myself to, you know, be a kid again! I asked Tyler to
remind to do the “trapeze” after our hike.
Nearing the end of our hike, we found a young man and
woman (early twenties or so) sitting on a hillside. They were both looking down,
engrossed in what they were doing. I went up to them, assuming they were either
texting or searching the web, and asked them where their phones were. Each of
them reached into a pocket and pulled it out. Oops! I
apologized, saying “Well, you know how it is these days with everyone on their
cells and not interacting with those right next to them”. They laughed and
agreed. I asked them what they had been originally looking down at and they
said “a stick”. We all laughed again. I said “Good for you…enjoy your day!” They
smiled with a “you too!” Nice kickoff to a Saturday!
Tyler and I made it back to the swing and now it was my
turn to aviate. I did it! I flew a whole 6 inches off the ground! I did it
another time to get the feel of being a kid again and then stopped after that
so I wouldn’t break a hip! It was an invigorating “visit”!
It was time to take Tyler home. There is a footnote I
have to interject here. Unfortunately, the onset of puberty is changing Tyler
and changing us. I do not want to see this on the horizon; I know the effect those
teen years can have on familial relationships. Oftentimes, the damage is
repairable…sometimes it’s not. This was not going to happen to Tyler and me! I
opened the conversation on the way back home and it got a little tense. I
explained my love and connection to him and how I’m broken when he is “not
connected” to me. He eventually blurted an “I’m sorry”. I immediately stopped
the sermon and said “Now let’s have some fun!” We were back on track! During the
rest of the ride, it was just Tyler and his grandma. We were flying high!
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