The quiet mountain backroad provided safe adventure for skateboarders — my grandson included. No traffic. Perfect curves. Gentle slopes. And a great hill near the end of the road where speed increased as the hill lengthened.

Jamison worked his skateboard magic along this road often.

One day the magic was interrupted.

Nearing the end of the big hill, Jamison encountered gravel that had washed from a driveway during a recent rain. He didn’t anticipate the hazard and wiped out at full speed. Flesh careened across gravel and pavement. Knees, belly, and face displayed evidence of the angry encounter.

He gradually healed, but the scars remain.

And the scars tell his story, especially the part where he picked himself up, overcame his fear, and conquered that hill once again.