One of the great joys of reaching mid life for me was the arrival of my granddaughter. And even though I remember the trials and tribulations of raising my own children, these difficulties magically disappear when you get a second chance with the grandkids! It’s probably due to fact that you know the pitfalls since you’ve been through the rigours of child raising before. However, the downfall is that you’re no longer at your physical peak, and some feats may just be too much !!
Over the past weekend, I spent a most enjoyable time with said granddaughter, and four of my wonderful grandnephews. They range in age from eight to fourteen, wonderful ages where nothing is impossible when it comes to fitness. They cycled for miles around the beautiful Maherees in County Kerry. For me, sitting back and enjoying a hot drink was a joy. But then someone suggested a final trip to the sand dunes. I’d not been there before, having left all the physical activities to the parents. I was urged to take the final ramble and was assured of spectacular views and a breathtaking vista. The enthusiasm of the kids made me smile and decided to humour them by going along.
Let me tell you that a Ramble it wasn’t !! It started as a leisurely stroll through sandy grass on level ground, but quickly escalated to a steep rise of slippery sand. I quickly realised that this trek would be testing for even the fittest of adults, never mind a granny who’s only concept of exercise is sweeping the kitchen floor !! Half way up, I asked myself what the hell I was thinking ….I was struggling to keep my footing and sweating profusely. I couldn’t look up for fear of falling down. My nephew ( who was smart enough to foresee the potential trouble !) quickly came to my rescue. He and my eldest grandnephew took both my hands and literally pulled me the rest of the way up. The many extra pounds I’d gained in the past years certainly didn’t help either.
It took me a couple of minutes to catch my breath when I reached the top, and checking that all the kids were safely landed ( they, of course, climbed like mountain goats and arrived a long time before me !) I stood back and looked all around me. The one hundred and eighty degree view was simply breathtaking.
I watched the expectant look on the faces of the kids as they waited for my reaction, and felt my eyes welling up. Not just because of the stunning scenery, but because I felt so honoured and humbled by the fact that I was allowed to share in this special place that the kids had claimed as their own. A moment in Time I will never forget, and am now determined to work on my fitness levels in anticipation of our next big adventure !! I love being where I am in Life, and thank God for all His blessings !!
By Helen Broderick
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