Going back

“I caught one! Look! I did it!”  

I loved fishing as the sun came up, on the dock next to the big willow tree.  I was so proud of each catch, always bursting with excitement.

“We are racing! Look! I’m winning!”

My sister was in driver’s seat of the trans-am, and I was in the driver’s seat of the el-camino. Both cars were sitting in the driveway, but we were speeding down the road in our imaginations.  Our determined race faces are so clear to me as I look back, almost 40 years later.

“I want to go faster! Can we go faster?”

Driving the snowmobile, age 5, on the sidewalks of New Baltimore, just before I tipped it over at the curb.  

“Let go! I can do it! I can do it!”  

On my pink huffy bike with the banana seat, braving it for the first time without training wheels.  I felt like Wonder Woman, and I was probably wearing her underoos. The wind was in  my face, and I felt like I was flying.

“Money talks, but it don’t sing and dance, and it don’t walk.  As long as I can have you here with me, I’d much rather be Forever in blue jeans!!!”

Jumping around, dancing, and singing along with Neil Diamond’s song playing on the record player at the babysitter’s house.  I looked forward to Fridays because I could wear my favorite blue jeans,  just for that song, and just for that moment.

Tug of war in the side yard, Red Rover, kickball, go-carts, and up north.  Some of my favorite memories.  If I close my eyes, and go back, I can still feel that childhood joy.  There were so many great moments that I wish had lasted longer.

The one thing they all have in common is adventure. I’ve grown to appreciate my longing for adventure. It seems to keep me alive, eager for the never-ending “bucket list” to be fulfilled.

These are the memories I share when kids ask me to tell them a story. I’m glad they’re there, tucked away but not forgotten. Thankful that there’s so much space left to make more.