I Can Touch the Sky

I took my granddaughter to one of our favorite parks this afternoon. I think it was the first time just the two of us have gone to the park. Mommy sprained her foot and is on crutches, Papaw had a migraine, and, well, Daddy had to stay and take care of Mommy who can only get around on crutches at this point. So, armed with water bottles and a snack, we drove to nearby Crowley Park.

It appeared to be a busy day with several family picnics going on, a birthday party on the deck by the pond, some kite flying in the nearby baseball field, and several groups fishing in the pond. But everyone was pretty spread out so it didn't seem overly crowded. Katie Lynn doesn't usually like being on playground equipment when there are a lot of kids around (I can't say I blame her), so I suggested we go on the deck to feed the turtles and tiny fish in the water. That suited her just fine. The entire deck (which is rather large) is surrounded by sturdy wire fencing, so that there's no danger of her falling off. She loves the freedom of running from one corner to the other and peering through the fence. There are actually two smaller sections of the fence that are a tiny bit lower and are just the right height for her to step up on one of the rails and look over the top herself - a great feeling of independence.

Once we ran out of bread cubes for the fish and turtles, I glanced over to the playground and noticed that no children were on the swings and suggested that we go back. She liked that idea and proceeded to run over the wood deck (it makes a wonderful noise when you run!) on her way to the playground. On the way, I pointed out the colorful kite, and she instantly associated it with Arnold the Pig in the Kipper videos (Pig and Arnold love flying their kite).

Katie Lynn chose the smaller swings - the ones for preschoolers that are sort of like buckets with holes for your legs. That way she can enjoy the fun of swinging without worrying about falling off or shifting your weight. With a "Ready, steady, go!" (also from the Kipper videos), I pushed her and continued to push her for, what seemed, a half an hour before she was ready to get down. She enjoyed watching the other kids playing on the playground equipment (without being in the middle of them) and seeing several little dogs go by with their owners walking them.

I loved swinging as a child (is there any child who didn't??). In the summertime, when school was out, my friend and I would walk down to the school playground and swing on the big swings, and time seemed to stop, as I dreamed dreams and thought about all sorts of things. I was reminded of those times this afternoon as I saw Katie Lynn slip into such a relaxed state going back and forth. Has anyone thought of swinging as therapeutic? Why don't they make swings for adults? What if a psychiatrist prescribed 3 hours of swinging each week for his patients? Would it make a difference? There is something so freeing about the back and forth motion and feeling like you could soar like a bird. It's too bad that we relegate so many things to childhood and don't carry them over into adulthood.

It was a good afternoon, and I think we both benefited from the time outside. By the time Katie Lynn was ready to get off the swings, the playground was full of grade school children and pretty hectic. I suggested it was time to go home, and Katie Lynn agreed. Her lovie, Larry, was in the car waiting for her and a package of Bunny Chews. Life is good!