Thursday, April 15, 2010

I hadn't been back in three and a half years, until yesterday.  I'd driven past many times, pointed it out occasionally, but hadn't visited.  I'm not sure why.  I'd spent more time there then with my family for two and a half years.  I still refer to the time I was a farm girl.  And by that I mean many long cold mornings milking cows.  Yes, I was a farm hand once upon a time.  I have changed so much since then.

The first thing was the smell.  You would wrinkle your nose in distaste.  And justifiably so.  Entering the parlour was weird.  Always wondered, why call it a parlour?  It's far from classy or clean.  It is much was as I remembered it.  They have music now!  Bernie brought me tea, Cheryl talked to me about politics, Doug explained the farm changes, Scott told me how he'd hit something on the tractor.  It had been a long time, but these people were still the same farmers I loved.

I put on gloves and remembered so much more then I thought I would.  I recognized one or two cows they still have, and many many more that I named when they were still cute and little.  Visiting the new calf pens I let them suck on my fingers, like I always used to.  I came home smelly and happy.  There are things I miss.

I miss working outdoors, and the physicalness of the job.  I miss being so good at what I do.  I knew those cows backwards, every number, name and history just by looking at their feet.  I was in charge of entire elements of the farm.  I miss the morning sun as I left work, the people, and peacefully driving tractor for hours. 

In short, I should've gone to visit on a winter morning shift when the machines broke down and I could remember working by myself for hours.

8 comments:

Allison said...

I've never lived on a farm or even in a rural area...I'm pure suburbia, but my great aunt and uncle lived next to a dairy farm and my brother and I used to feed the cows clover when they walked along the fence.

Tabitha Wells said...

My aunt and uncle used to have a dairy farm. I can remember a few times spending a weekend there as a kid and helping them.

It was never really my thing. Cows scared me and I could never adjust to the smell.

Unknown said...

I been on a farm once and it was in the 80s. This what I been told but I don't remember.

Anonymous said...

That picture is sooooo beautiful Kris! I want to experience that kind of farming too.

Courtney Elizabeth said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

And I can really relate to your "about me" text...I feel like trying on personas is an apt description for what my life is like right now.

Ella Unread said...

Hi Kris, you have an award waiting for you at my blog :)

Castor said...

The closest I've ever been to a cow is the meat counter at the market. I used to visit my uncles chicken farm. Chickens are kinda like cows....right?

Kris said...

Ya'll crack me up!
Yeah Jeff, chickens pretty much are cows, actually.