Five-year-old grandson Nate has discovered a new challenge--climbing trees. During a recent expedition for snow balls, Nate and his mom were spotting good climbing trees. “The problem,” Nate intoned, “is all the good trees are in somebody else’s yard!”
Nate and mom in a good climbing tree
The playground of a nearby elementary school produced a satisfying session for the young climbing enthusiast—and his mother. “I used to love to climb trees,” she said. “I think it would be great to develop a park that was just trees great for climbing, all natural, all in the outdoors.”
Almost six decades ago I was the youngster scraping knees and hands as I climbed an old water oak across from my home. I can still remember the thrill of perching high and hidden, concocting wild and complex imaginary adventures with my friends. During this visit from grandchildren, however, I left the climbing to Nate and chose the feet-on-the-ground adventure of chasing granddaughters still too young to hear the siren call of a good climbing tree.
I get terrified watching the acrobatics my grandchildren get up to in playparks. Trees would be even worse. But that is my problem not theirs - climbing develops special skills, and so Grandma has learnt to squint sideways and hold her breath and pray all is well.
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