Weekly Photo Challenge: Masterpiece

July 31, 2013 by Elizabeth Melton Parsons 17 Comments

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/07/26/out-of-this-world/

This post is longer than my norm, but includes back story, photos and an old poem of mine. I’m sorry but you’ll have to read the entire post to understand why I chose this as my masterpiece.

Masterpiece:
1. the most outstanding work of a creative artist or craftsman
2. an outstanding achievement

Achievement:
1. The act of accomplishing or finishing.
2. Something accomplished successfully, especially by means of exertion, skill, practice, or perseverance.

I’ve seen a lot of things that could easily be described as a masterpiece. I was going to post some photos of an old hotel near here. It’s definitely a masterpiece in every way, but I changed my mind. I had an experience a couple of days ago and to me this was my masterpiece. Look at definition number 2 for masterpiece and then look at the definition for achievement. My post for this challenge is about my own personal masterpiece of achievement. And for those who’d like to see the old hotel, I’ll be posting them in the near future.

I’ve always had a passion for climbing fire towers. This passion began when I was thirteen and out with my older brother. We were driving down a curving, country road in a sporty, little Triumph convertible. This was a thrill in itself. My brother never learned the meaning of slow. As we came out to the main road that would take us to his home, he looked across the road and saw an old wooden fire tower that had been abandoned many years before. It rose skyward where black clouds roiled and lightening flashed. He looked over at me and asked if I wanted to climb it. My answer, “Oh yeah!” He got this silly grin on his face and we roared across the road and up the deserted trail to the tower.

We were about half way up when the wind picked up and the rickety old thing began to sway. He asked if I wanted to go back, but I shook my head no and we continued to the top. We clung to the railing of the little observation deck and watched the storm rage. When it had blown itself out, we climbed back down and walked to the car. It was only then we realized we were sopping wet. We began to laugh. It was such a feeling of freedom and excitement and I was delirious to have been allowed to share it with him. From then on I climbed every fire tower I could find. Up until about ten years ago anyway. That’s when my ill health began and none of the doctors I went to could figure out what was wrong with me. They knew I was diabetic and blamed that. I knew better. It took a heart attack for them to discover my genetic heart problem, With treatment, I’ve been better and have worked really hard over the past year to get back a semblance of my old zest for life.

Some of you may remember the post I made a while back about Sycamore Springs Park and the spiral staircase. I’ve always wanted to climb it, but was never physically able to. Not as high as a fire tower, but still way beyond my capabilities. A couple of days ago my son and I took Bernie there for a little romp and I kept looking at those stairs. I told my son I was going to give it a try. He told me to go for it. I did. It creaked and groaned and swayed just like that old fire tower I’d first climbed with my brother. About half way up I stopped to see how I felt. I felt fine and up, up I went. Oh man, what a feeling I had when I reached the top and looked out at the fabulous views. I’d done it. A personal triumph. A small thing for most, but a huge masterpiece of achievement for me.

spiral stairs – expansion bridge

Stairs to Freedom 

Marching their way toward heaven,

Surrounded by flowering vines.

The breeze freshening the air around me

As I climb slowly one step at a time.

These stairs are my vision of freedom.

If I could just make my way to the top_

My fear makes me weak and I stumble,

Sometimes lacking strength, I must stop.

When my courage returns, I continue,

To slowly ascend once more.

Knowing when reaching the summit,

I’ll be granted a glorious reward.

I may falter when courage deserts me,

But each day I climb a bit higher.

The going is slow, but I’ll make it,

No matter how much I may tire.

I may be weak and weary,

But to continue on up, I must dare.

To reach that glorious freedom,

Waiting at the top of the stairs.

halfway there

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