A Moment of Pride and Maturity

Heathen #1 is in the orange boat in the
foreground.

Stoneycreek Rendevous arrived on the Zoo's schedule again - much to Heathen #1's delight and impatience!  Since this particular Heathen turned 12 and was placed in a whitewater kayak, he has been an addict.

In the past three years, he has managed to outgrow two boats - one for each season he has paddled.  As we were loading gear to head for the river this weekend, the Asst. Zookeeper mentioned that Heathen #1 had outgrown his current boat.  I groaned - all I could see were dollar signs.  A new boat usually requires a new skirt to fit the cockpit.  Ugh.

When we arrived at the river, Heathen #1 immediately headed for the boat vendors to inspect what was around.  After about 45 minutes, he came back asking if he could have $25 to demo a boat for the weekend.  He had found a brand new Fluid Dope that would allow him another six inches of growth.  The Asst. Zookeeper went and inspected the boat to make sure it fit our Heathen correctly and allowed him to exit his boat safely.

For the past two seasons, Heathen #1 has spent in the wave at Greenhouse park and at roll clinics.  We were not letting him go down the river until we were comfortable sending him.  He finally reached that point - and we told him he could sign up for the beginners trip.  We were gifted with a bigger smile than on a Christmas morning and I got a hug so big I'm pretty sure he cracked my ribs.

He made the trip downriver without any trouble.  We even managed to find him a group to run the river again on the second day.  Heathen #1 had a wonderful weekend - he was exhaused when he finally got home, but he was already asking when he could run the river again. 

Just finished his first run down the river.

Heathen #1 handling the new boat in the wave.

 After finishing his first run downriver, the Asst. Zookeeper and I were prepared for the question, "Can I have that boat?"  We had already come to the conclusion that his old boat was no longer safe for him to paddle.  Heathen #1 had grown so much since last season that he could no longer safely exit his boat - he kept getting stuck.  NOT ACCEPTABLE to either the Asst. Zookeeper or to me.  As the Momma that tends to be nervous about this sport anyway, I wasn't comfortable with him taking that boat anywhere that we couldn't see him.

However, Heathen #1 startled us in a wonderful way.  When he approached us about purchasing the boat, he already had gotten a price.  His proposal: would the Asst. Zookeeper and I be willing to loan him the money.  He would make enough at his summer job at scout camp to cover the cost of the boat.  But he wouldn't be able to get as good of a price later in the season when he would have the cash in hand.

The Asst. Zookeeper and I just looked at each other - but we didn't have to talk about it.  His request was very reasonable.  He already had the job secured for the summer.  And he wasn't asking us to buy him a new boat like most kids would do.  I was so proud of my fifteen-year-old!  It was such a mature request.

Maybe the Asst. Zookeeper and I aren't doing such a terrible job of civilizing the Heathens as we occasionally think.  Well done, Heathen #1.  Enjoy the boat, baby, and paddle safely.  You have so much to look forward to and I can't wait to see where the river of your life will take you.

A happy Heathen #1!