On a seesaw, the fleeting moments in balance are the most exhilerating. High drama for youthful explorers. Precarious getting there. Splendid when achieved. Good practice for life.
Most children thrill to the feeling of suspension on a seesaw knowing that at any point, the slightest movement will affect the incredible feeling of "rightness" and begin the struggle back to equilibrium. It is a game of wit, of power, of strength, of finesse.
In memory I hear the ageless cadence of: "Seesaw Marjorie Daw. Jack shall have a new master. He shall earn but a penny a day because he can't work any faster." It rang through the air on the playgouund as friends and I competed to create balance on our seesaws.; the rhythm of the chant encouraged our creativity and perhaps portended our future.
I remember Daddy being so careful when he took me to the park. He'd place me on the seat at one end of the sseesaw, remind me to hold on, and push down on the other end in a trial movement. Often he'd move the fulcrum and say, "That's better." I trusted him.
My friends and I had little regard for trial movements, nor strength to change the position of the fulcrum. That never occurred to us. We were all about the fun; the ups and downs; the chance to bump the other's seat on the ground and hear the screams and pleas for mercy.
Somewhere in my mid thirties realization struck: My childhood game of seesaw was an analogy for life. Questions flooded in. What is my fulcrum then? My support, my point of rest? Where are the handles? My places or persons to cling to? What happens when I fall?
Over time I discovered some answers to those important life questions. Truth is, I am still working on them. Collaborating with gifted artist Carol L. Funke on Circle of Life Trilogy has reinforced the belief that the best-positioned and strongest fulcrum is constructed of faith, family, and friends.
Life on a Seesaw Volume III is the result of our efforts to capture the teetering tottering moments we have experienced individually and together over time. To this end Carol and I have, to the best of our abilities and talents, used our wit, our power, our strength, our finesse to create moments of equilibrium for our readers.
If we have succeeded, from afar we will sense your screams and pleas as you relate to our truthful images on these pages. We will hear your sincere "Ooooooo" of pleasure as we connect in moments of balance.
