Time feels like it’s moving faster than it used to around
here. Overnight, sweaters and cozy
blankets became mandatory, my cravings for all things pumpkin resurfaced, and
my daughter turned 18. We just returned
from a whirlwind tour of colleges in Philadelphia and Washington DC, and my husband and I are preparing ourselves
for next autumn when our nest will empty. I am fortunate to have found two
really great women who are very capable at taking care of and loving my dog,
cat and horses while we are away from home.
Siete developed an abscess in her front right hoof just as I
was about to leave. Luckily, the farrier was able to swing by in the morning
and drain it before I had to go, and our horse-sitter was a champion at
cleaning and putting on the Animalintex, vet-wrap and boot. Both horses were
angels, she said, which made me very proud.
As I mucked the barn on the first morning that I was back, I took a
moment to notice the crisp clean air and the yellow and orange already sprinkling
the trees in the woods behind me. The
horses were happily grazing, walking normally, thank God. While I enjoyed the urban energy of DC, it
sure felt wonderful to be here tucked away in our quiet little world.
I had a fun re-union in DC with two friends whom I met many
decades ago, when I was my daughter’s age while in a summer journalism program
at Northwestern University. The three of us have had completely different but
very exciting career paths, and it was really interesting to catch up. My daughter and my husband were sitting with
us as we talked and laughed non-stop for over two hours. Later, one of these
remarkable women commented, “We are all here because someone had dreams for
us.” I’m so glad that my daughter is able to have so many strong “aunties” to
inspire her.
Looking at my vibrant child who is ready to go out and
change the world, I feel determined to offer her all the possibilities that my
parents gave me to explore and create my own path. I think back and see a swirling pattern that
took me all over the globe and settled me here in this secluded corner where
the trees and the hill wrap around our home like Mother Nature draping her
protective arm over our shoulders. It’s
a good place to come from and a good place to come home to.
5 comments:
Beautiful thoughts you have shared. I know just how you feel on so many levels, and agree about so many changes that are going on in our world in so many different ways. Big or small, change is inevitable...so glad to hear that you and your horses are doing well. Autumn seems to be coming very quickly just about everywhere this year. Hope that doesn't mean we're in for a rough winter.
Lorie - I think you can either fight change or go with it and see where it leads next - I'm all for going with the flow! I just wish that some days, it wouldn't flow so fast.
It's been a moving year for us, losing several of our felines and then Salina, and then my son went off to college. It does feel like the changing of a bigger season in my life.
Thankfully the first pumpkin showed up at the farmers' market and reminded me that some things remain the same. A home-made pumpkin pie, leaves starting to change and fall, and the lovely garden spiders spinning their webs.
I wish you were closer b/c I would suggest we start a mom's night out to help us ride this big change!!
Billie - I so wish we were closer. Then, I could come to your writing workshops and share all the good pumpkin recipes. I do love that certain foods taste best in the proper season. This summer was great for raspberries, followed by some amazing tomatoes and peaches. I just made the last peach cobbler. Now, it's time for apples and pumpkins and butternut squash. So I don't have to feel sad that there won't be any more peaches until next year.
I keep telling myself, "Change is good, change is good."
Change is inevitable as we travel through life. I'm sure your daughter appreciates the wonderful caring parents she has and will certainly look forward to coming home on her breaks. It's hard to let them go but at the same time it's the natural order of things.
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