I've Got A News Flash For You! (I Said)
By Catherine
@bluesa (15022)
Johannesburg, South Africa
June 7, 2017 8:34am CST
It was my 15th year on this planet, heading for my 16th. As you can see by the photo, I still had my natural hair colour (before I went all dark 
) I laugh, because I think that with my hair darker, my moods became darker too (or, uh, I just got older, with more responsibilities 
) And seeing this photo today, I remembered that 15th heading into 16th year (well, a little adventure I had in it) I can laugh about it now!
I had gone to visit family in Portugal and my sister a friend and I decided on a lovely hot summers day, we were going to go for a "little" hike. Now, I was a tall (still tall) extremely skinny (no longer extremely skinny) teen. Our friend? Well, he was tall and skinny too and 16.
So off we went for our hike, with a 2L bottle of soda and a few packets of crisps. The walk down from the top of the village was lovely (note, I said down) . We got to a little stream sat down and had a picnic, daydreaming away. When we stood up and turned around to return to the village, my heart dropped! The walk back up to the village was going to be a steep one, we couldn't even see the village, it was so high up!
I was also asthmatic and had forgotten my inhaler! Half way up that climb, grabbing at brushes with our hands, our friend kept saying that he could try to piggy back me. I kept saying, no thanks, I could make it, but finally I turned to my friend, heaving for my breath and told him "I have a news flash for you" you're going to have to piggy back me and bless him, even with my feet dragging on the ground (we were both tall as I mentioned before ) and the incline was so that a person was almost crawling, that young guy carried me up to that village, my sister couldn't stop laughing (panic for my asthma aside) because she was walking behind us and said we should have seen the picture we made!
Plus, this friend of ours kept muttering "oh lordy" over and over . When we finally made it to the house and I got a good dose of my inhaler, we all just started laughing! That day was a lesson in "pay attention to your surroundings" for us all. Have you ever gotten into a situation that taught you that lesson too?
Photo is of me at 15 heading to 16 
) I laugh, because I think that with my hair darker, my moods became darker too (or, uh, I just got older, with more responsibilities ) And seeing this photo today, I remembered that 15th heading into 16th year (well, a little adventure I had in it) I can laugh about it now!
I had gone to visit family in Portugal and my sister a friend and I decided on a lovely hot summers day, we were going to go for a "little" hike. Now, I was a tall (still tall) extremely skinny (no longer extremely skinny) teen. Our friend? Well, he was tall and skinny too and 16.
So off we went for our hike, with a 2L bottle of soda and a few packets of crisps. The walk down from the top of the village was lovely (note, I said down) . We got to a little stream sat down and had a picnic, daydreaming away. When we stood up and turned around to return to the village, my heart dropped! The walk back up to the village was going to be a steep one, we couldn't even see the village, it was so high up!
I was also asthmatic and had forgotten my inhaler! Half way up that climb, grabbing at brushes with our hands, our friend kept saying that he could try to piggy back me. I kept saying, no thanks, I could make it, but finally I turned to my friend, heaving for my breath and told him "I have a news flash for you" you're going to have to piggy back me and bless him, even with my feet dragging on the ground (we were both tall as I mentioned before ) and the incline was so that a person was almost crawling, that young guy carried me up to that village, my sister couldn't stop laughing (panic for my asthma aside) because she was walking behind us and said we should have seen the picture we made!
Plus, this friend of ours kept muttering "oh lordy" over and over . When we finally made it to the house and I got a good dose of my inhaler, we all just started laughing! That day was a lesson in "pay attention to your surroundings" for us all. Have you ever gotten into a situation that taught you that lesson too?
Photo is of me at 15 heading to 16 17 people like this
14 responses
I'm glad you rarely use inhaler now.
@BettyB (4117)
• Summerville, South Carolina
8 Jun 17
I would love to have seen a picture of your piggy backing up the hill. I remember swimming in a gravel pit, something we were not allowed to do. The water was extremely cold and very deep. At least one teen drown there every summer. There was a rope swing that the guys swung out on and then dropped. My brother talked me into doing it. I wasn't a strong swimmer and I didn't think to pull my legs up so I wouldn't go so deep. My lungs were ready to burst before I finally broke the surface. God watches out for fools and little children. I was more fool than child that day, but I learned my lesson. It was the last time I ever swam in that gravel pit.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
7 Jun 17
Beautiful oicture! That's how a little walk turns into an adventure. I think I've had one or two of those in my life. So, how tall are you?
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
9 Jun 17
@1hopefulman thank you kindly . Yes, that's how adventures happen . Good you survived yours too. I am nearly 1.8m tall
. Yes, that's how adventures happen . Good you survived yours too. I am nearly 1.8m tall 1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
8 Jun 17
What a lovely young girl you were. lol and yes, who hasn't gotten themselves into some sort of a mess by not really paying attention. Luckily you were able to laugh about it once you got your inhaler.
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
9 Jun 17
Thank you, Iz . I sure made sure to pay attention after that. Yes @BelleStarr luckily we could laugh after the fact
. I sure made sure to pay attention after that. Yes @BelleStarr luckily we could laugh after the fact 
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
7 Jun 17
Such a lovely pure image of you. Oh do I remember those days
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
9 Jun 17
Thank you @Freelanzer . Yes, days of uh oh adventure.
. Yes, days of uh oh adventure.
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
7 Jun 17
glad you made it back ok! i have kids who need inhalers and there have been many times we've regretted not having them with us
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
9 Jun 17
Thank you @jillybean1222 . Sorry you have also had those moments of inhaler regret!
. Sorry you have also had those moments of inhaler regret!
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
13 Jun 17
Many times as a kid, we explored every road and hill and community on our bikes, I'm sure our parents would not be happy to see just how far we had gone. None of us were asthmatic...
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
14 Jun 17
@PainsOnSlate , I can only imagine your many adventures :) . Thank goodness none of you were asthmatic.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
7 Jun 17
What a funny story that is something to laugh at now! Then, it really was no laughing matter with your asthma. Your friend was very kind, but I can picture the two of you. Lol!
I love your natural hair color!!!!! I think it would suit you again. You sure were a beauty then as you are now!
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
8 Jun 17
it was nice of your friend to piggy back you because if you insisted on climbing alone without any assistance, and you had difficult breathing (since you did not have your inhaler), the chance is you may have wheezing respiration and your bronchial tree may constrict.
beautiful picture of the teenager you.
1 person likes this
