When you are a very
young kid, you have the attitude that you can do anything. It’s too bad
that most of us lose this attitude, as we get older. I know that I certainly
did. Many previous stories have chronicled that Tim and me certainly had a
fearless “Do Anything Attitude” in our earlier years! There was practically
nothing we wouldn’t attempt to do, no matter how dangerous. There was, however,
ONE exception. As long as we can remember, the old windmill has stood in the
north pasture and still stands there
today. Even now, it’s an imposing site, but when we were young kids, it looked
really huge and tall! We always had the goal of someday climbing up to the top
of it and stand on the little wooden platform (see pic). There were countless
times that one of us would start to climb it on the little climbing pegs. I
made it almost half way up to the top on some attempts, but “got scared” and
quickly scurried back down. One of the fears I DID have, as a kid was the fear
of heights. In fact, it’s only intensified the older I get! I’ve often said, “The
only heights I’m not afraid of is Berlin “Heights””! On one of my
train trips to Chicago last year I went to the top of the Sears Tower, just to
brag that I’ve been there, and when I looked out the observation window I got
VERY dizzy and nauseous! TO THIS DAY, neither Tim nor I have ever made it to
the top! The last time I attempted it (last summer), I didn’t even get up 3
climbing pegs! The pegs seem to bend down a little more than they did over 47
years ago when I made the first of MANY attempts! Now I’m not only concerned
about the height, but all the rust, which has accumulated over the years! To
add, “insult to injury,” Tim’s brother-in-law climbed clear to the top just a few years ago! UGGHHH, what that does
to the “fragile male ego”! I’m making serious plans to FINALLY fulfill a LIFELONG quest and climb to
the VERY TOP after I retire (in EXACTLY 376 Days, 13 Hours, 17 Minutes, and 54 Seconds from this instant)! I figure
if nothing else, that I can still function at retirement as a paraplegic!
