When Your Future's so Bright . . .

Denver and Spencer enjoying the wonder.

I barely remember the eclipse of my youth.  That is not a metaphor. I remember the science teacher poking a hole in a shoe box and we students looking through a hole showing a white pinpoint of light that eventually became a crescent.  I don't remember feeling excited about it.  All I remember is the welcome break in our usual school routine.  I don't remember my parents mentioning it at all.

This time was different.  My husband ordered special glasses for us.  The boys read a N.Y. Times report on the eclipse. We watched a program about historical fears and superstitions surrounding eclipses.  Spencer and I discussed the fall of Constantinople after an eclipse which frightened the Constantine people.  

Crescent shadows during the eclipse.

Yesterday was the big event-- a 97% eclipse.  John Robert left for school at 4am to ride a bus to Clemson University and view the eclipse in its totality.  Scientists and professors spoke to the students.  The entire student body of the university seemed to be out on the quad.  He said it was amazing.  

John, Spencer, Denver, and I took a more laid back approach.  We loaded up the van with food and a cooler, and went to the pool.  John grilled burgers, we watched the eclipse through our special glasses, we drank cold drinks, and "Oohed" and "Aaahhed" all afternoon.  Cooler temperatures.  A wild change in lighting.  Crickets chirped.  Dogs barked.  There were strange shadows.  It was simple and wonderful.

My children constantly remind me that the world is an amazing place and learning is ever reaching.  My teacher's attempt years ago to help us experience the eclipse was the best he could do at that time with 30 students, one shoe box, no internet, and limited time to share.  I'm so glad John and I could give more and share more.  

Einstein and Shakespeare enjoying new eclipse glasses.

The biggest and best thing I have learned from homeschooling is the simplest: we learn best and most when we are allowed to follow our wonder.  

Who knows what we learned and what need is there to test us?  The world is the subject and every moment a possible opportunity to see something we've never before seen.

36 Hour Getaway OR Survival Challenge

Two Happy Zipliners at the end of an Awesome Day.

Launching from the Heron's Nest
to zip across the Chattahoochee River.

With an unexpected few days off, John surprised us all with a quick trip to Columbus, Georgia for some excitement this week.  Unlike my idea of fun-- museums, bookstores, restaurants, and a beach-- John and the boys had different ideas.  How about ziplining, a ropes course, and some white water rafting?  Umm... Okay.

Spencer makes it look easy!

John Robert chose to stay home for school and get paid for overnight dogsitting.  The rest of us piled into the car and set out for adventure.

Our first stop was lunch in downtown Columbus, which is charming.  There is a thriving triathlon scene there, and I enjoyed drooling over the Go Faster wheels in the local bike shop.  After this little delay, Denver and Spencer began their ziplining adventure and ropes course.  John and I had a great time watching them!

Denver's return zip after two hours of
ropes courses and obstacles.

After a wonderful evening blowing out John's hotel points on the Presidential Suite at a local DoubleTree (Yes, the shower was in fact large enough for all of us to stand in!), we looked forward to another day of adventure: white water rafting.

The Boys' New Favorite Place.

It needs to be said that John signed us up for the "Family Adventure."  This was said to be suitable for children ages 8 and over.  It sounded fine.  I didn't know to be scared.  I was a bit suspicious of our surfer dude river guide, but it didn't occur to me that we would do anything but rock up and down a bit as we floated down the river.

I was wrong.  Our guide delighted in showing us all the wonders of surfing: turning the nose of the raft upstream and into the rapids until the water sucks the nose of the boat down.  This was terrifying as my two children were in the nose of the boat.  The water eventually spit the boat out of the wave, hurling us downstream.  Fun?! Delightful?!  I didn't think so.  Sadly, I was in the minority and we did this repeatedly! We watched the boat ahead of us flip too high in the air and capsize-- children, parents, guide, and paddles strewn like confetti across the water.  

By the time our trip was through, I had resigned myself to simply obeying our guide's paddling instructions and waiting for the boat to flip.  Yet my husband and children loved it.  LOVED IT. Sometimes I think we're not really related at all.

After (finally!) pulling our raft ashore, my sons and husband were dripping and grinning from ear to ear.  It was a fast but exciting adventure for them.  We loaded up, ate lunch, and drove home.  I later heard Spencer telling a friend what a great time he had.

I have spent the last 17 years trying to keep my children safe.  It is hardwired into me.  Something about the white water rafting made me feel unsafe.  I wanted to pull my children out of the turbulent waters to safety the entire time.  I could not enjoy it, and when I realized they were having fun, I knew I had to allow it . . . and yet, be ready to pull them to safety at every second.

Not my cup of tea, John Degonia.  You owe me for this little vacation.