Monday's Memories

When I was a young teen, I'd lay on my chenille covered bed and gaze out the windows or stare at the latest handsome movie star whose picture I'd torn out of a magazine and carefully taped to the wall.  I'd dream of faraway places and wonder if I'd ever escape the farm where it seemed like one day was just like the next.

Each morning, I'd hear my mother stir around and head down the hall to the kitchen where she'd fry bacon and eggs, make toast or sometimes biscuits and gravy.  Homemade jelly was always on the table to slather on those biscuits or toast.  When breakfast was finished, I'd get the job of either washing the breakfast dishes or more often than not, I'd be handed the dust mop and told to go mop the hardwood floors. That was a job I could make stretch almost until noon unless the woods called to me for further exploration.

When my chores were done, I'd go saddle up Star or Blaze and head down the lane and through the gate by the barn.  The horses were smart and I didn't even have to get off to open the gate, but just sidle up and reach down to unlatch it, ride through, push the gate closed and relatch.  Once I had the gate secure again, I'd nudge my horse into a gallop and ride to the furthest reaches of the farm.  Then I'd turn around and slowly make my way down the cattle paths into the woods where I often pulled up at a fallen log, tied up my horse, and sat down on the log to daydream.  I often wondered what life was like when you were an adult and could do what you wanted to.

I didn't think too much at that young age about gaining an education, my head was filled with fanciful dreams of someday riding in convertibles with cute guys or getting a job that took me to exciting places.  Those daydreams helped me to escape the mundane and sometimes lonely life on the farm.  Then I'd hear a bird call to his mate or hear a squirrel chattering about something and I'd get my head out of the clouds and come back to reality where I contemplated nature and all the delights of simple things. 

I truly loved nature, but sometimes it seemed like I was 2 halves of a whole with one half of me wanting to hurry up and be an adult and get out into the real world where there was surely more exciting things to do than sit on a log watching birds and squirrels or the occasional rabbit.  The other half was a little fearful of the outside world having been alone for much of the time in spite of having two brothers.  That young girl was quite content to be alone and listening to the sounds of nature with only her horse and dog for company.

Fast forward to today, the once young girl still has occasional daydreams, but has truly found contentment in loving the simple things in life. 

Until next time...