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A quote: “Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer—except, of course, for the pigs and the dogs.” ~~ George Orwell, Animal Farm
I’ll start with a story …
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He started as professional musician but had to stop when he reached the limit of allowable performances. So, he turned to painting and was popular enough he reached his limit there in just a dozen years.
This was legal fairness. Everyone should get a chance at what they wanted to do.
Writing was next and his stories so popular he exhausted that venue in five years. He retired for good, spending his time in the garden or spinning fanciful stories to tell his delighted grandkids. Stories that became the favorite of their friends.
One day the authorities showed up …
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Now, it’s your turn.
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. featured image, cropped, Adobe Stock standard license
Cameron says: “Come on, little one,” Grandpa called. “We still have a full day ahead of us.”
I remember racing to keep up with him. We had plenty of chores to do and he would teach us other things as we worked. The picture you see was probably the day I learned how to start a tractor.
By the time I was nineteen, I knew how to run the farm which was the whole point. Call me a hayseed or a redneck but I know my worth. So did the prospector who needed my help to grow food on a distant world.
I still remember the year the children’s librarian took me aside and told me I wouldn’t be participating in the summer reading program this year. She was gentle about it, explaining that the other children deserved a chance to win too, and I’d already won three years in a row.
I spent that summer hard at work on 4H projects instead. Dad and Grandpa helped me with my agricultural projects, while Mom helped me with my cooking projects. I had so much fun that the next year I took even more projects.
By junior high, our club leader was gently suggesting that I shouldn’t be taking so many of the same projects over and over every year. I was doing so well I was winning Best of Show two and three years in a row, and wasn’t it time to let some other kids have a chance at it?
I didn’t really mind trying out new projects, although it was annoying to have to give up some of my old favorites. But high school brought agriculture classes, and with them FFA projects — except by my junior year our chapter advisor was starting to nudge me away from my favorite projects. Although he told me that I should challenge myself with things that didn’t come easy, to make myself a more rounded individual, I overheard him telling the principal that I was taking so many awards that a lot of the other students weren’t even wanting to try.
Funny how I don’t get any more of that up here in Shepardsport. With the Expulsions meaning that our population is doubling and doubling again, they want the best ag experts they can get.
Dupin says: It was a slow walk, but I didn’t really care. I just needed them back ahead of me…again.
I’d been showing them animal tracks and flowers, but when they got ahead of me, I realized I was doing it wrong. They needed to be in the lead.
So I let them, and the experience was amazing.
Now I was a part of their explorations. I was a part of their sense of discovery.
When I was little, I explored with friends, not adults. I’d try to give them as much freedom as they could handle in this adult-controlled world of theirs.
Navig8r says: “It’s so wonderful to see the joy that our pumpkin patch brings to all those city kids. Just listen to them.”
“It is, dear.”
“Daddy, Daddy,is this a really sincere pumpkin patch? Can we come back tonight and see the Great Pumpkin?”
“Sorry, Cupcake. The sign says they’re closed at night.”
I turned and recognized the faraway twinkle in my wife’s eyes.
“I see the wheels turning in that engineer brain of yours. Don’t bother resisting. Go ahead and start on the special effects. I’ll do the ‘Peanuts’ theme decorations. We’ll have the Great Pumpkin added for next year.”
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