We were having a snack at a mall with good friends when Art mentioned how he'd once made a catch that could have been a drop...a catastrophic drop.
This was something that happened 15 years ago. I'd forgotten about it, but it must have been traumatic for Art.
We used to have a tall papaya tree with the sweetest papayas we've ever had. Eventually, the birds discovered it and got to the papayas before we could pick it. There were times they'd make a small hole and then actually clean out the entire papaya leaving only the skin and dropping the seeds on the ground.
Anyway, Tiffany and KC were in Hawaii for a visit and loved having the papayas for breakfast. KC wanted to pick the papayas so of course, Grandpa was always willing to grant his favorite granddaughter her every wish. He got the chair and hoisted her up to pick the ripe papayas. She was loving it all.
Well, unfortunately, she lost her grip on one of the papayas and it fell out of her hands. Incredibly, Art held on to KC, kept his balance and was able to reach out to catch the papaya.
We could not believe it! Tiffany was taking photos and managed to catch that rather shocking episode.
And no, Art never did it again.
These family memories, captured in the moment!
ReplyDeleteWay an adroit move! Nw let us discuss standing on chairs and holding small children. 😀
ReplyDeleteI cringed when I saw Art on a flimsy chair. A bad move even if he was on it by himself.
DeleteThe things we do when young(er). Lucky catch, though.
ReplyDeleteThe things we do! He has some awesome balance!
ReplyDeleteI have terrible balance so I'm in awe of Art. He must have some athletic ability too!
ReplyDeleteHope Mr. Art uses an A-frame ladder these days for anything. Sounds like he needed one of those poles with the fruit-harvesting basket on its end. Whew! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDelete15 years ago. Have you been retired from teaching that long? Maybe longer. Just realized I've been retired that long. I remember eating papayas in the Philippines when I was KC's age. We grew them too. I've been disappointed in the ones at the stores here.
ReplyDeleteYes, standing on that plastic chair was not a good call... but DH does things like that all the time and scares me to death. But good catch!
ReplyDeletePhew! That was great luck and balance. I have a papaya picker that I got from Koolau Farms years ago. It is a painted coffee can with a female screw bottom off center to attach to a threaded pole (such as a mop handle). On the side of the can, a thick strip of metal about 1" x 9" is riveted on with a "V" notch at the top. I simply put the can with the v notched strip of metal just under the papaya fruit stem and push up. The v notch cuts the stem and the papaya falls into the can. It is really genius.
ReplyDeleteI need to make this for a friend who has papaya trees in her yard. She is older than me, is frail, and her husband has dementia. When she picks papayas, she leans a ladder against the tree, climbs, and then reaches up to twist the fruit off. SO dangerous! If she should fall, her husband wouldn't even be able to think that she needs help.
If I can figure out how to get all the components together, I'll make one for you, too.
I see you are getting the same spam I am, and just when I thought I had seen the end of that kind of junk.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, standing on that chair, holding a baby, Uff. But Art obviously had a good one arm grip.
Good balance and good eyes! Now, I hope you make him PROMISE not to do that again!
ReplyDeleteWhat a catch
ReplyDeleteHe should take up juggling!
ReplyDeleteI have three granddaughters and I know this feeling of wanting to grant their every wish.
ReplyDeleteGood catch!
ReplyDelete