Happy Happy 11th

Have you ever found yourself standing on the edge of something great, only to be held back by fear? Lee Rickwood takes you on an enchanting exploration of courage and connection as we celebrate Vim's 11th birthday at her special place—a breath-taking waterfall. This episode captures the essence of bravery through the eyes of a fearless young girl, whose adventurous spirit reminds us all of the beauty in taking leaps of faith. With vivid storytelling, we'll share heartwarming moments of family and community, all while uncovering the delicate dance between nurturing a child's boldness and managing the concerns that come with it.

Experience the joy of witnessing Vim's transformative leap from the waterfall's edge, inspiring those around her to embrace life's adventures with renewed vitality. Her energy becomes a catalyst for breaking personal barriers and ignites a sense of courage within everyone present. The celebration is crowned with the symbolic act of donning wildflower crowns, representing the beauty of shared journeys and the bonds that hold us together. Tune in to hear how one young girl's unwavering courage can inspire us to live fully, celebrate family bonds, and express gratitude for the adventures that unite us.

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Chapters

• 0:02 Vim's 11th Birthday at Waterfall
• 8:13 Epic Leap of Faith at Waterfall

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:02

Ah, if you're here, that means I want to show my appreciation and say thank you for subscribing, thank you for supporting this story and the storyteller that is about to narrate to you their piece of work. Thank you so much and enjoy, cup of tea in hand, maybe a couple of biggies or two. Enjoy Happy, happy 11th by Leigh Rickwood.

Speaker 2: 0:43

Happy, happy 11th. Happy, happy 11th. Our daughter Vim turns 11 today and, as she has done every birthday since she's been old enough to tell us she chooses the waterfall as her place to celebrate. I ask her why she always wants to hike all that way to celebrate there and she tells me, in that voice she uses when she's speaking from deep inside herself, that it's because it is her special place where she feels strongest, happiest and most like herself.

Speaker 2: 1:19

She's a wild thing, my Vim, and so hugely alive at times. Thing, my Vim, and so hugely alive at times. She can be fearless in the face of so many things from which most people would run like snakes unusual happenings, other people's pain, the dark lightning, thunder you get the idea. She will always stand strong and take the jolt of fear, face whatever is causing it and reach down deep to respond with heart and compassion, taking action based on what she feels is needed to help the situation. Not for her, the thrill of being scared out of her wits and running away to hide Her thrill is to face fear head on and respond. All this scares me a little, to be honest. Who has the strength to take so much on, to feel so much? I watch her racing down the final stretch of the sunlit track to the waterfall, urging us all on Her body, voice and energy expressed to their maximum capacity. Her eyes full of light and joy, her excited voice like birdsong at sunrise. The pleasure she takes in other people, animals and especially our earth is extraordinary. Every living thing lights her up. She's hopelessly in love with the world. As her mother, I keep asking myself if I am allowing her to feel too much, become too reckless. Could it all be leading to a huge accident, some deep hurt, possibly a sudden end to her life? I shake off my unnecessary fears from my thoughts to focus instead on the day's festivities.

Speaker 2: 3:14

We emerge from the bush into the almost circular glade at the bottom of the waterfall and, as always, it's breathtaking. As always it's breathtaking A cascade of diamond sparkling water, the deep Viridian pool at its base and, like the bottom row of teeth of some prehistoric giant who hasn't taken good care of his oral hygiene, mottled boulders form a staggered ring around the pool. Mottled boulders form a staggered ring around the pool. I fill my lungs with a vibrant air and single file. We wade across the shallow edge of the pool and head to our spot a sandy bank under a canopy of weeping trees. On the far side, vim's father and I set up while the kids take off to adventure.

Speaker 2: 4:06

Before long, Vim is back with her little brother Tor and her best friend Aqua, and their arms are laden with sweet-smelling wild flowers in yellows, mauves and reds to decorate the party feast. Apparently Dumping them down for us, they strip and throw themselves into the water like golden seals with their sleek bodies and happy squeals. Come in, come in, shouts Vim, in, in, in, in. They all chant. How can we resist? Yule and I too get naked and join them. Oh, that crystal clear water is icy, cold, despite the high summer day, so different from the warmer currents of the ocean. We're used to. Close to home, we all keep diving and swimming around, jumping up and down just to stay warm. Yul throws the children one by one up into the air, each of them trying to outdo the other with the funniest pose as they hit the water. Oh, wow, it's just such a paradise in which we live, seated around the birthday feast.

Speaker 2: 5:14

After our swim, vim asks us all to hold hands for a little ceremony. She wants to conduct Repeat. After me, she says formally Thanks for this place, thanks waterfall. Thanks sunshine. Thanks trees. Thanks birds and animals. Thanks flowers, nature for providing the food. Thanks everyone who helped grow and gather it. Thanks Mum and Dad and Tor for preparing it. She adds Then, looking deeply into all our eyes thank you for being my favourite people on this planet and helping me celebrate. Then she squeals woo-hoo and jumps off to do this crazy little jig before we begin to devour all the different salads and fruits and then settle in for the day.

Speaker 2: 6:10

Later in the afternoon, vim begins jumping into the pool from the rocky platforms at the edge of the face of the waterfall, with each jump climbing higher and higher until finally she's ready to jump from the top of the 30-metre waterfall. Neither Tor nor Aqua join her in her jumping and she doesn't push them to follow her lead. They are her cheer squad. It is her challenge alone, her way of marking her 11th birthday. It seems Eul and I also watch her to ensure that she isn't pushing herself too far. Yet we aren't too concerned. She's smart about it, skilled and confident. We had jumped from there as children too and knew the risks. Her glowing face when she emerges from the water after the jump from the top is more radiant than the summer sun. She slaps the water and laughs and hoots, hugging her brother and friend who cheer her like she has just saved the world. Dad, come, jump with me. She yells over to us. I want to share it with you, please, please. Yule smiles at me, shrugs his shoulders, as if to say how can I resist our gorgeous Vim? And takes off climbing up after her.

Speaker 2: 7:35

They count down from ten and jump into the pool together, yul, sending a huge splash over Aqua and Tor, all of them laughing and shouting. Now you, mum. I hear Vim scream over all the noise no, no, no. I yell back, come on, I yell back, come on, it's been too long. Vim wades over, holds out her hand, looks into my soul and says gently I want to share it with you too.

Speaker 2: 8:13

I'd been adventurous too in my early years, although, unlike Vim, who keeps pushing back the boundaries of her life further and further, I'd played it pretty safely, within the standard norms. Yet I'd done this before, hadn't I? I could remember the thrill. Okay, wild one, let's do this. I follow Vim up and stand with her at the top of the waterfall, looking out upon the luscious tropical landscape beyond, taking it all in. However, when we begin the countdown.

Speaker 2: 8:47

With each number, my body starts to turn more and more solidly into stone and I know that, no matter how much I want to do this for Vim, I can't go through with it. When I stop counting, at four, vim turns to me. Everything goes quiet around us, looking deeply into my eyes yet again, in that magnetic way that she does. Suddenly, vim is not my daughter. She's raw energy, a source of warmth and strength that begins to thaw the hardness I'm feeling in my body. It puts a fire in my belly. It puts an excitement in my chest that opens my throat and together we scream out Three, two, one. And without even making the choice to do so, I'm soaring through the air with her light as a feather, laughter bubbling up inside my world, expanding out infinitely beyond me. My beloved daughter still looking deeply into my eyes when I glance in her direction, sharing with me the exquisite thrill of being alive in all its ecstasy.

Speaker 2: 10:06

In the moment we splash into the pool, everyone erupting into applause. I'm going to do that on my 11th birthday too, yells Tor. I'm going to do it with you on your 12th birthday, vim, yells Aqua Yul sweeps me up in his arms and holds me close. He recognised that I've experienced something I've allowed to go to sleep within me without even realising it. He understands the barrier I've crossed. He reaffirms how important what I've just done has been for me. I can feel how happy he is to have that part of me back.

Speaker 2: 10:50

When the moment passes, we turn to the others and see Vim and Tor packing away our things, while Aqua is weaving the wild flowers into crowns for all of us to wear, while Aqua is weaving the wild flowers into crowns for all of us to wear, like blossomed tendrils interconnected with everything around us and joy in our hearts. We head back home along the track. As I turn for one last look at the waterfall, I give silent thanks for the day and send thanks from my heart to Vims for coming into this world and giving me such a happy present on her birthday. Happy, happy 11th Vim. Thank you.