through the eyes of children

I went out on a bike ride with three of my grandkids yesterday. We didn't set out til 7 PM and even then it was hot but at least bearable. The three oldest, the only boy and eldest at 14 and the twins at 13 wanted to show me a place they found off the bike trail through the neighborhoods where it intersects the bayou. It is an 'engineered' bayou made into a concrete channel through the city but even these have more wild and natural drains into them and that's what this one was, an inviting cleft in the land that drained the surrounding area, a sort of wet little stream with small pools and minnows and lots of under and over growth. Hunks of concrete, old pavements made a cascade and stepping stones up and into the beckoning green.

I wasn't sure exactly where we were, where we would come topside if we followed it up but I knew basically where we were.

It reminded me of being their age with a bike and the world, only my bayou was not a concrete channel but a living waterway and the woods were full of such drains. I thought of the freedom we had as kids and how restricted their lives had been in comparison. I was a little surprised how far it was considering they weren't really allowed out even in the fenced yard without an adult too many years ago. This new hike and bike trail through the neighborhoods was like a mini-highway for them.

The kids were so funny, starting out, my grandson peddled alongside me and we talked. Jade and Autumn would stop now and then and let us catch up. When it is time for us to go 'off trail' as it were down this quite steep foot worn path to the banks of the concrete bayou and exploring the little wash it was all

look out here Granny

be careful there Granny

step over here Granny

watch out for the hole Granny

it's easier along here Granny

When we headed back, Mikey got his bike up to the top then came back for mine.

"I'll get this, Granny," as he hauls my bike up the steep slope.

It hasn't been that long since I was the one hauling all the bikes up.

Jade dashes on ahead, headed home. Mikey takes off after her yelling back to his sister who is peddling beside me, 'Autumn, you've got Granny duty' as if I'm some doddering old fool that might get lost or damaged on the way home.

"Don't worry Granny," she tells me, "I won't ditch you."

I laughed and told her I wasn't old and decrepit, just old and I was pretty sure I could find my way home. I had, after all, lived in this area for 35 years. And if all else failed I could always call out the troops on my phone.

She paced herself to me anyway and it was nice.

They've taken, lately, to pointing out all my signs of aging, the hair on my chin, the wrinkles on my face, the spots on my skin. The other day Autumn told me I was getting white hair.

Thanks, sweetie, for pointing that out to me. My usual response is to get all Abe Simpson on them, shaking my finger, creaking my voice

"And one day it will happen to you too!"