Voila!

It felt like I was climbing Mount Fuji. I saw the top, I reached for the slippery edge, and then…

When I was four, my family and I went on a long trip to France. In Lyon, we stayed in a hotel right next to the Le Parc Tete D’or (The Park of the Golden Head). I remember we went to the park. The park had many things to do like a zoo, lake, pony rides, botanical gardens, and playgrounds. As a kid, I thought the playground was the best option. Because the structure looked so majestic, it was made up of wood, and yellow metal poles with a green plastic roof. The multi-level structure had steps, a ladder, and a rockwall all connecting to a larger platform. 

Around me, kids were playing, their shoes crunching and running on the wood chips. I grabbed the cool rung of the ladder, my hands barely wrapping around it. I felt a chill down my spine. I was a little bit afraid, but deep down I knew I could do it. Even though my  hands almost froze off just by touching it, there was nothing going to stop me from climbing it. 

I got to the top,  all around  people laughing and riding tandem bikes in the dew covered morning. Then I saw it. The greatest, most epic, spectacularly awesome rock wall I’d ever seen!  It was just mere feet away. So like any sane person would do, I scrambled down the ladder and sprinted to the wall as fast as my little legs could go, almost falling in the process. 

Once I got to the wall, I started to climb. The hand holds were the only thing I could think about. The wall had scattered colorful grips. They were damp and slippery. My tiny fingers were not big enough to fully wrap around the rainbow holds, and my feet were the only things holding me up. It felt like I was climbing Mount Fuji. I saw the top, I reached for the slippery edge, and then… I felt nothing. I was falling!

The chilly breeze whipped past me as I fell. With a jerk I landed on my butt! With teeth clenched in pain. I wanted to give up. To cry., Bbut then my mom asked if I needed help. Part of me wanted to say yes, then I thought about all the times I gave up. I told myself this time would be different. I came back to earth and stood up.

I replied, “Self do.”

I brushed the wood chips off of my clothes and got back on the wall. I only had one thought on my mind, get to the top. Hand over hand, I climbed the majestic wall. After what felt like hours of blood, sweat, and pokey wood chips, I hauled my light body over the edge. My bones were pulled pork, and I felt great. I finally accomplished something I’d been working on for 15 minutes! 

Hands raised, arms aching, I mustered a triumphant “Voila!”

All the park goers: bikers, parents, and running kids, turned to me.  They raised their arms and said, “Voila!”

Their response invigorated and fueled me with newfound strength and happiness. I felt recognized.