“speed bump – a rounded ridge built crosswise into the pavement of a road or driveway to force vehicles to slow down.”

– Dictionary.com

I’ve been thinking a lot the last couple of days about speed bumps.

Often, as we go through life, we find ourselves on a superhighway, in the cruising lane.  The other cars around us move at the same speed; and although we share the road, we are not obstacles to the journeys of others.  Life is pleasant and predictable and enjoyable.  Then there are the times when we find ourselves on a small, winding road that demands caution.  We slow down, anticipate curves and potholes, and suddenly, “WHAM!” we hit a speed bump.  Some bumps have signs that warn they lie ahead.  Some even are painted yellow to get our attention.  Others just appear without warning.  Whatever the circumstance, speed bumps do a fine job of getting our attention and reminding us to slow down.

Whose life hasn’t had a speed bump or two?  Last winter, in the midst of a cold spell, our boiler stopped working.  SPEED BUMP!  We were a bit rattled.  We slowed down.  We regained our equilibrium, and then we moved on to find a solution.  Several years ago, we had a week to remember.  First, with a whole family’s worth of laundry lined up and ready to go, we opened the washing machine only to discover the first load of clothing standing in cold, dirty water.  SPEED BUMP!  We needed to replace the washer.  The expenditure came out of nowhere, and we were not prepared to make such a large purchase.  While we were still working out the plan for the washer, SPEED BUMP!, the dishwasher emptied its own water all over the kitchen floor.  And, by the way, SPEED BUMP!, our daughter needed money for an expensive field trip at school — tomorrow.

Anyone can handle a speed bump.  All it takes is preparing for the bump, slowing down, and then finding your center of balance and moving on.  When there are several bumps close together, finding your balance can be a little more tricky.  The week of the appliance conspiracy, I felt as though I was driving my car on a railroad track, bumping along and feeling rattled.  My old car’s shock absorbers simply couldn’t keep up with the repeated assault of the bumps in the road.  Have you had times like these?  If you’re human, I’m sure the answer is, “yes.”  And what do you do when the bumps come as close together as railroad ties?  You pull over and catch your breath.  You look ahead to see how many bumps there are, and you make a plan that allows you to compensate for the uneven road you’re about to travel.

I’ve been thinking about speed bumps this week because my sweet little granddaughter, Cheyenne, is about to hit a speed bump in her road.  The signs have warned, Speed Bump Ahead, and already her parents are checking the shocks on the car and bracing themselves so that they will be intact when they reach the other side.  Cheyenne’s life so far has been one of speed bumps.  Her upcoming surgery will be her sixth.  After a long period of highway travel, she will once again hit a bump.

My mind wanders now to a time several years ago when I became the weekly driver for my granddaughter’s Girl Scout troop members, delivering them from school to their meeting a mile away.  The school parking lot had a series of speed bumps placed strategically in the traffic lane to assure that people who came for after-school pickup would remain attentive to the many children who crossed to their waiting school buses.  My vehicle of choice and necessity for these trips was our old 15-passenger van — the one that handled and sounded like a truck.  It only took one ride over the bumps for the girls to begin to squeal and laugh and enjoy the fun.  They would beg me to hit the bumps head-on rather than at an angle, and they would bounce on the seats to exaggerate the thrill of the ride.  Kids are like that.  While I was in the front of the van, trying not to send it airborne or risk damaging the undercarriage, the wide-eyed girls in the back were having an adventure.  Oblivious to any of my concerns, they simply enjoyed the ride.

What gets us through the speed bumps — especially the ones that come close together — is remembering that they are only bumps.  They are not obstacles that block our way and stop our travel.  If we see them one at a time and cross them one at a time, speed bumps are something we can manage.  As Cheyenne makes her way toward the next bump in her road, I have no doubt that she will be like the wide-eyed girls in the van — filled with a sense of adventure and trusting that the adults behind the wheel will keep her safe.  And they will, because they have experience with bumps and they know how to handle the trip.

When you see that sign, “Speed Bump Ahead,” just brace yourself and remember that the bouncing only lasts for a minute.  When the bumps hit you by surprise and the breaks between them are short, remember to see them one at a time.  Be confident that you can regroup, catch your balance, and get on with life.  After all, they are not mountains — they are only speed bumps.