When Did I Know That I was a Grown-Up?

Originally Written Between 2016-2017       

There is a certain assumption that I have grown up.  And that may be true – especially since I am married, have given birth, own a home and a car, graduated college, seen my children marry and have three grandchildren.  I have more examples – but they are just from leading a normal, law-abiding, church-going kind of boring life.  That doesn’t mean I’ve been an adult 100% of the time.  I’d like to tell you about a time I acted like the child – even though I was 34 at the time. 

“Don’t fall!  Watch where you’re going!  Stick close to me! No running!”  Picture me screaming those words as my four children were going up and down the trails of a huge gorge outside of Ithaca, New York.

Our boys were 13, 10, and 8 and our daughter was 4.  I held her hand the entire time and scaredy-cat that I was, I knew she was not in much danger because I was not letting her go.  But, the older ones, along with their two boy cousins, ages 5 and 3, paid no attention to my shouting.

To give you a little background, Norm and I and our kids were visiting my sister, Joanne, and her family in Ithaca.  Joanne took us to the gorges.  Now, I have to tell you that I am not afraid of heights.    But, I found out on that day that I am afraid of “falling off the edge.”  I looked down and I was terrified.  Not only for me; but, for anyone around me.  The fact that my sister was teasing me about being afraid and too careful added fuel to my already frightened state of mind.

My nephews were quite accustomed to running around the trails of the gorge and since my boys were a lot older, Joanne let them all run on ahead of us.

Well, I was so scared that I was practically on my hands and knees and crying.  Besides being on alert for where our boys were, poor Norm had to contend with a hysterical wife!  He tried to calm me down by taking Rebecca and letting me go at my own pace.  

I was the last in line as we were hiking the trail when all of a sudden, I heard excited voices shouting in the distance.  Oh, no…. now what?  I just knew that one of my boys had fallen.  I ran as fast as my wobbly legs would let me until I reached the others.  They were all getting ready to cross the Fall Creek Gorge to the other side.  And how were they going to cross?  There was one way – walking across a suspension bridge.  I found out later that this was the original suspension bridge where the silent serial thriller “The Perils of Pauline” was filmed. 

The kids were running back and forth on the suspension bridge and my sister was in the lead.  Well, I couldn’t take it.  I grabbed Rebecca and went back to our car where I hid until everyone (all seven of them) finally returned - unscathed.  I was still shaking and crying and little four-year old Rebecca was trying to console me!  Who is the grown-up now?