18 Comments
User's avatar
Judy Miller's avatar

Oh my gosh Kateri! This is a great read. And look at you, 15 years of age, brave and trusted. Just as you felt safe to be brave then, of course, no wonder you are today.

And that photo of your grandma, I see your chin? The way you lean on your hand that way? Am I imagining that? 🩷🕊️

Expand full comment
Kateri Ewing's avatar

I am laughing, Judy. I see my grandmother's chin whenever I see myself. Chin hairs and all. I remember her plucking them, too 🙃 It makes me endlessly happy to a part of her with me like that. And yes, the hand gesture, too. Also, I put my hands on my hips just the same as she did, too...and when I do...watch out 😂

Expand full comment
Dawn Tomaski's avatar

Me too. I loved it too. Reminded of my first time driving a stick shift on a hill in Spain behind a school bus that kept stopping. I stopped halfway up, right in the middle of the road. Got out and made my friend take over.

Expand full comment
Kateri Ewing's avatar

Ha! I can totally imagine that. That's so funny, Dawn. Thank you so much for reading and sharing!

Expand full comment
Georg Cook's avatar

What an incredible woman your grandmother was, thank you for sharing her memory and your adventure with her 🩵

Expand full comment
Kateri Ewing's avatar

Aw Georg, thank YOU! I'm so grateful you stopped in. She was indeed a very unique human. I was lucky. xo I hope I can have adventures one day with my grandkids, too!

Expand full comment
Georg Cook's avatar

Wouldn’t that be an amazing thing, and to take your grandmother with you in your heart 🩵

Expand full comment
Kateri Ewing's avatar

🥰

Expand full comment
Alexander Lovell, PhD's avatar

This isn’t just a story about driving; it’s a beautiful, albeit hilarious, metaphor for life. The Hoover Dam, with its massive size and the weight of history, becomes the perfect symbol for the daunting challenges we face. The "726 feet high" and the tales of its construction fatalities are so chilling. Each person's 'dam' might be different: a new career, a relationship, a fear you've avoided. Your story makes me think about how we often fixate on the immense, overwhelming aspects of these challenges, rather than just focusing on taking the next small step, moving forward at five miles per hour if we have to. It’s almost as if facing these metaphorical dams is where we discover our hidden strengths and learn to trust ourselves, much like you did that day. 🩵

Expand full comment
Kateri Ewing's avatar

We must be on the same bandwidth because...you nailed it, why I told this story. Well, many reasons why, but! Five MPH is the golden ticket for me these days. Hope you are well Alex. Thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts ✨

Expand full comment
Simply Sian's avatar

What a fantastic memory to share. Grandmother wisdom 💛

Expand full comment
Kateri Ewing's avatar

Oh yes, I hear her chime in on lots of things ;) Thank you so much, Sian xo

Expand full comment
Linda Goldberg's avatar

😅🥰 A great and seriously relatable read! As a midwestern young girl who grew up surrounded with flat ground with gentle hills, I can totally relate to having an extreme fear of heights! 😱🤢🤮

I also loved the part where you talk about your trip to Vegas with your grandma!😆My grandmother was so much fun and a complete badass as well! To this day she’s a constant in so many of my dreams! ❤️

Thanks for sharing your story as it brought me some serious laughs as I recalled so many funny and memorable moments from my childhood!😂😂🤣❤️

Expand full comment
Kateri Ewing's avatar

That makes me really happy, Linda. Thank you sharing a bit about your gram, too. I hope you write some of those stories down! 🥰

Expand full comment
Linda Goldberg's avatar

I actually did!☺️

Expand full comment
Kateri Ewing's avatar

It’s really important :) and to share them!

Expand full comment
Lana Stuart's avatar

I just can't tell you how much I loved this!

Expand full comment
Kateri Ewing's avatar

Makes me so happy, Lana. Thank you! ☺️

Expand full comment