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Thrills of victory will be lost in time
(by Timmy Sullivan - August 25, 2010)
SENIORITIS, BY TIMY SULLIVAN
Thrills of victory will be lost in time
Sam is at that perfect grandson age -- just going into second grade. The world is still all shiny and new, but he's old enough to beat me at Marco Polo, put together a jigsaw puzzle in a flash and share favorite poems.
This summer, Sam learned to dive. One of his favorite activities is creative diving contests with his nana.
"Let's see who can dive out the farthest."
"Now let's see who can touch the bottom."
"How about with one hand?"
"How about with one hand and then one foot?"
" How about one hand, one foot and then a perfect-10 finish like the gymnasts?"
The variations are endless, but I was holding my own pretty well until that one with the perfect-10 finish. When my first effort fell flat, literally, Sam gave me a pitiable look and said, "Nana, you cannot let yourself be beaten by a second-grader."
Oh, if only that were true. But instead, we had come face to face with the law of diminishing returns. Since Sam hadn't come across this one yet, I felt compelled to explain.
"Once upon a time," I intoned as I struggled up the ladder, "I could have beaten you just because I was bigger and stronger. But each year, that edge decreases until, one day, you'll pretty automatically beat me, just because you're bigger and stronger." Now, that gave him pause -- for about a second.
"Come on, let's do it again," he yelled as he pulled himself out of the pool, no ladder required.
Actually, this year, Sam and I are sort of on the cusp -- pretty evenly matched in the diving department -- his youth and fearlessness against my experience. But I know that won't last. By next year or the year after, my increasing fear of breaking bones will keep me from taking the risks needed to keep up with a thrill-seeking third-grader. My days of winning are coming to an end -- just the way they should.
So I relish every contest, thankful still to be considered a worthy opponent -- and read lots of poetry. That's one place where the law of diminishing returns doesn't apply.
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