of spider monkeys

I used to climb years ago. I loved the stone and heights and sunshine and open spaces. No high tech walls with routes and coloured stones really existed then, (at least not in my neck of the woods). But then, in the heartbreak and brain fog that is divorce and custody, I found myself up a cliff wall with no support and no climbing partners. Above me was another 25 feet of rock and below me was the last hundred feet I climbed and some not so pleasant consequences.

I remember thinking in that moment that I really had too much to live for…especially my two babies Jonathan and Kerstin…so I finished the up climb and, shaking, walked out the long way around, and never climbed again. (Not serious rock faces anyway.)

What is that saying that children take after their parents?

Happily, Chloe is much more sensible about climbing and she belongs to a fabulous climbing gym called The Edge. She’s been bugging and bugging for us to have a go with her and finally we said yes.

We didn’t belay, we chose to boulder but we had so much fun. Fun to the max! We got hot and sweaty, were proud of our strong spider monkey girl and watched her complete routes with the smallest foot and hand holds, upside down, crossed arms, splayed toes gripping on to a wall edge, and, although we “old guys” only tried the easier routes, we had terrific fun.

I think we’ll do it again! 😀