I lived away from home most of my childhood in order to attend school. It took a long time to get over the homesickness but by the time I went to college I was long past crying myself to sleep. Many of the girls in my dorm hadn’t spent a night away from home and were miserable. Some even dropped out of school. What I didn’t know then was that homesickness can strike at any time of life, for any number of reasons.
Seeing new calves frolic on hillsides as I drive to town, I long to be horseback and out among them sorting pairs. Early evening light… the neighbor heads out to feed the heavies, late in the day so they’ll settle in for the night and hopefully, hold off on birthing till morning.The last golden light touches hilltops as the sun peeks out from cloud cover.
I can’t recall who had the country song out a few years back called You’re Gonna Miss This. It was about a dad telling his daughter to cherish the early years of her marriage, struggling to make ends meet and dealing with toddlers, and continued with reminders of all the ordinary things we don’t notice and find ourselves missing later in life.
Been thinking of the things I miss and never really cherished. The smell of a newly opened box of crayons and chalk dust.
Mom’s mustard sandwiches. Looking back, I realize that was all she had to make a sandwich snack for begging kids, but we liked it.
The sound of a milk bucket nearly full and feel of my head in old Ada’s flank.
Horse hair on my jeans after a bareback ride.
That chaotic hour when kids got home from school, hungry and eager to tell me about their day.
Branding smoke, and setting out food for tired workers.
Well, you have a list of your own, if you stop to consider, but here’s my point. Something is going on right now that you’re going to miss later on. What might that be?
Yesterday, we had a red headed woodpecker in the yard. The eagle swooped over the house on his way to settle in at the nest overnight. Killdeers are back, and trying to lead us astray when we come near to a nest. Wild plums are starting to bloom and, in spite of drought, green is stealing into low places in our yard.
Someone’s cranky child was fussing in the grocery store yesterday. The mom was frustrated; no doubt wishing they were home and settling in for the evening, but soon enough the little one will be off on her journey to adulthood, and mom’s gonna miss this.
Life is short. Don’t miss a minute of it.