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Microcap & Penny Stocks : DGIV-A-HOLICS...FAMILY CHIT CHAT ONLY!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lazarus Long who wrote (14576)	6/21/1998 8:40:00 AM
From: Lazarus Long	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 50264

<OT> In honor of Father's Day Warning: this is a long post! I recently (re)discovered an article I had written a couple of years ago for the newsletter associated with the local YMCA's Guides and Princess' program. This program is designed to enhance the relationship and interaction between fathers and their 5-8 year old children. As I read through it, I obviously thought of my own relationship with my children. But, there is also a lesson or comment, if you will, toward our relationships with other adults. In fact, I immediately thought of this group... the Rocketeer family. This is my tribute, such as it is, to all of you... Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there... Lazarus ********************************************************************** [Editor's Note: THE WALL is a sheer wooden structure approximately 40 feet high used for climbing. There are small projections and holes "randomly" scattered across the surface to be used as handholds and footholds. LL] My son and I had been enjoying our first day at a father/son camp hosted by the YMCA of the Redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains in California. Together, we had already led the opening ceremonies, yelled our lungs out during the Yell Competition, tried our skill with a bow and arrow and engaged in a short hike through the beautiful surroundings. We were trying to decide what we should do next: would it be BB guns? the Nature Lab? boating? Rather abruptly, my 5-year old decided that he wanted to try and "conquer" THE WALL. This was a pretty interesting decision because he was pretty adamant earlier in the day that the wall and he would not be embracing anytime soon. But, for whatever reasons, he decided late in the afternoon to make the attempt. After waiting in line for about 93 hours, it was finally his turn. He had the helmet on, he had his safety harness in place, the safety rope was attached. After some last minute instructions and a pat on the butt, he was on his way... After a pretty good start, he kind of got stuck. He tried grabbing the rope for support and ended up with his back against the wall. Some encouragement was yelled to him and he got turned around and resumed his climb. However, after a short time and a small amount of progress, he had his back to the wall again. About this time, he decided that it was probably just too hard to continue. He yelled that he wanted to come down. The belayer and instructor, John "O. Woods," wouldn't let him down. He heard words that said that my son was giving up on himself. There was no real distress showing in my son's eyes so John wouldn't allow that to happen. He got my son turned around again and on his way. The cycle was repeated with frequency as my son made his way up the wall. Early in my son's journey, a couple of other dads began to shout encouragement up to my son. As time went on, more of the dads at the wall got into the act and the stream of positive words became constant. When the time came to ring the bell at the top of the wall (signifying the end of the ordeal), my boy took a swipe at the bell and barely got it. He was backwards once again, but after getting the OK (and more encouragement) to try again he finally gave the bell a solid whack and he happily came down. Later that night, my boy was tucked away safely in his sleeping bag and we were reviewing the day's events. "Did you like the b-b guns?" I asked. He answered with a sparkle in his eyes, a firm nod of his head and a whispered, "yeah." "Did you like the bows and arrows?"... more sparkling and nodding. "Did you like the wall?" With some of the glitter gone in his eyes and a small hesitation, he answered in the affirmative. With a smile on my face, I asked him if he wanted to do it again on Sunday. After an even longer pause and without much excitement, he said, "OK." I let him know he didn't have to if he didn't want. His joy was obvious at being let off the hook. As the days passed he became more and more proud of his accomplishment. Memories of the struggle faded and only the memory of success was left. As I reflected upon the day's events, I was very touched by the reaction of the dads at the wall. Though I have known some of them several years, there were no close friends among them. They had nothing at stake in my son advancing up the wall (except a little longer wait for their son's attempt). It wasn't hard for them to say those things and to share their enthusiasm, but so often we don't think to do just that. But, these are the kind of people that we attract to our program: honest-to-goodness caring men. I was also tremendously grateful to the young man at the wall that was doing such a fine job of instruction. It would have been so much easier for John to let that 5-year old come down the wall and not have that sense of accomplishment, but he was committed to my son's success. He carefully watched all the boys faces and eyes. If he saw panic or true fear he let them down. If they had just given up on themselves, they stayed up there because John hadn't given up on them. Because of these people, I was taught once again the power of encouragement, support and positive thinking. Because of these people, my little boy (and many more like him that day) slew a dragon...walked on the moon...leapt tall buildings in a single bound. You get the idea