A Jake Story

So, yesterday I was "sitting" with my grandson, Jacob and we were playing Dodgeball and practicing soccer kicks in the street in front of his house. There is a gully (a river of small proportion, lined in cement) that runs from uphill and ends up in the Ocean. This time of year there is just a small stream about 15" wide or so in the center of the gully. Not enough to be dangerous, but enough to carry a soccerball into the ocean, never to be seen again. Well, eventually, of course, the ball went over the side and into the stream and began its journey to the Sea. Jacob was over the side and into the gully in a microsecond, chasing the ball and eventually catching up to it. Now, he had the ball, but knew he could not climb out with it. He began to throw it up the side...always a little short...trying different ways to throw. Melanie was here by now and encouraging him to try underhand throws...and...a miracle...one of the throws cleared the edge and landed in the dirt near our feet. Now, the only problem was for him to climb out of the gully...a 12-15 foot wall that is slightly sloped, but very steep. He is wearing soccer shoes with plastic cleats and tries again and again to run and get enough momentum to take him to the top...of course the cleats slipped and even if he took them off he probably could not make it all the way to the top...he never panicked, just kept trying over and over. Melanie went to get Albhy to help and Jacob and I were alone. He looked up at me and said "wait, let me think, if I am smart..." a lightbulb went off and he took off running shouting "follow me Gamma, I might need you to help me". He ran for the bridge calling "come with me". When he got there , he grabbed a rope hanging on the side of the bridge and easily climbed out. He had remembered the rope and saved himself. Why is this a story to remember? Because Jacob just turned 6 in May.