With Luke anything new, loud, or anything that defied gravity produced clenched jaw, tighten grip around my legs and shrieking. lots of shrieking. Even when he was just a few years old, I’d think to myself, “c’mon, you’re a BOY! you’re suppose to be LOUD and CRASH and like anything FAST!” but even now as a six year old, it takes the strength to move mountains, or bribe of star wars or cars, to get him to try something, anything that might be a little noisy and off the ground.
then there’s shane. by no means is he a daredevil or oblivious to above average incline of a slide. he hates most swings, fears vacuum cleaners, and cringes anytime he sees an ugly doll. he calls them monster. and scawee. but when it’s something that he likes, he has no fear.
Like this train ride. I remember when Luke first rode this, the operator had to stop after less than a minute to let him out. Shane though insisted that he go in his own car, though his plans were thwarted by a much bigger girl who cut in line (hmmph!), and that he would be the conductor. Luke was asking the whole time exactly how many minutes the ride was and how many times it went around the track. and of course the questions, “but HOW do you know that it’s not going to go too fast?!?!?”
During the windstorm where the winds got up to 90+ mph and many of the hundred year old oak trees fell every which way, Luke ran into our room the moment he heard winds gushing outside his room. Shane only followed suit and ran after him. We spent a while quieting down Luke and reassuring him that we’re all ok and that we’re safe. Shane, well after the novelty of our bed wore off, the comforts of his own bed was where he wanted to be. so he insisted, “i want my OWN bed. go back to my woom” i made bernard go with him and sleep in the room because i was scared for him to be alone!
I love his insistence and no nonsense sensibility. I hope one day I can be as brave as him!
