For the last month I've been playing Farmville in real life, and in all honesty it's the best job I've ever had. I worked apple harvest for my Grandfather who is 85 years old and has been farming for at least 60. I had worked in the orchard several times as a teenager, but I didn't really appreciate it then. It was incredible to go to work every day with a man who truly loves what he does and I learned so much from his passion for life.
The very best part were the stories. Several times a day, we would be walking through the trees and he would share a story from his past. I heard stories about his grandparents homesteading in the area and weeks spent hiking all over creation with his brother. There were stories about installing the first telephone lines in the valley, and building the first irrigation lines in the area. There was a story about the town sheriff that didn't have a car, a uniform, a ticket book or a gun; but would just let your dad know if you had done something wrong. He told me how he milked cows every day before school and about the plane he learned to fly. My favorite story was that when he was a teenager he was paid 75 cents for every 100 apple boxes he built, and at the end of the summer he and his brother pooled their money and bought a Model A for $75.00.
Sometimes, life offers us amazing opportunities and when we take them and cherish every moment, our lives are enriched beyond measure. So today: eat an apple, hug a tree, thank a farmer, bask in the sun and really appreciate the incredible people in your life.
1 comment:
Veda, I imagine you are a busy woman so that is the only reason I can excuse you from not writing on a regular basis. You are awesome with words.
I lobbed off my dreads, so now I will have to find another excuse to buy your beautiful beads. Maybe 'just because'?
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