Its amazing how passing something that resembles something else can spark so many memories and thoughts in your head. Something about this particular farm reminded me of a farm that belonged to my mom's best friend and her family that we got to visit on occasion. Marie was one of the rare friends that stays with you for a lifetime. She was my mom's best friend from high school. I have so many memories from times we visited their farmhouse. I can remember down to the texture, the sign above the toilet that said "If you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie and wipe the seatie". I remember listening to Queen albums in the bedroom with Marie's 2 sons and of the day one of her daughter's and I went out and threw dirt clods at the turkeys to try to get them to fly. There was a day when I trespassed on the rooster's turf and got attacked (I still have a scar on my shin). One of the funniest memories was the day, as teenagers, we arrived on the farm and 2 pigs were in the process of making piglets and my sister laughed and said "Look at those silly pigs trying to play leapfrog!"
Tragedy struck Marie's family once I had entered adulthood. She lost a son, then her husband, then her other son and finally a daughter all in a very short period of time. How anyone carries on after that is beyond me. Marie is probably the strongest woman I know.
PP 8/30/12 - thank you to all that put it there. Its great to know that several of you were able to connect to this image and that it triggered some memories for you as well
Sad and touching ending to your story bu great that you have teh memories of the good times and that you can find things that remind you of those times. I love the way you processed this. The details in the barn and the colors in the sky are truly wonderful. Fav
I found myself staring at this one for awhile. It's a stunning shot well processed, but it unlocked a lot of my own childhood me dries as well. Every summer my dad would pack the family in the station wagon and we would leave the suberbia of Leave It To Beaverville to a farm in upstate New York for a week. Lots of memories of jumping off the silo onto a pile of hay ( my cousin missed and broke his arm), picking corn, husking it and having the freshest corn on the cob ever, and swimming in the old water hole which forever creeped my out!
@jcarrollphoto I think that's how she managed to carry on... by focusing solely on the good memories and the blessings she had while she had them, rather than on what she lost. I always loved when we got to visit her family.
@jillmstruss yes, like super woman strong...knowing what she experienced, that's why I get fed up with people that get on the pity pot over losing a job, which sucks, granted, but it does not even compare to losing your family and home.
@cromwell we did something similar with the jumping into hay, but it was from the barn loft. I jumped twice, loved it, went back up for a 3rd jump, didn't hit the hay right and rolled fast down into a pile of fresh pig poo. My dad laughed, but my mom was so mad because she didn't bring an extra pair of clothes. Marie had it all under control though. She still had some of her youngest sons clothes that he grew out of (both of her sons were older than me by a few years) and she and my mom decided since my clothes needed to be washed, they may as well do some laundry
Memories unleashed, indeed. I remember "swimming" in the tin tank meant to give the cows a cold drink, playing on and around tall stacks of rectangular hay bales, having ornery older cousins throw the kittens off the roof to see if they would land on their feet, realizing kittens were prone to get up into the engine of a car for a quick demise when you least expected it, and having my great Grandma Sylvia focus on "the mainest" point of any story ... Which inevitably boils down to love and perspective. I feel for your friend. She was definitely thrown an unfair hand that would lead most of us to lose both love and perspective. Hugs for her, and for you for reminiscing.
What great memories, Jeff! Can't say that I have any childhood farm memories as I grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles. However, I do have childhood family memories that are also both precious and painful at the same time:/
Love the photo and explanation of what it triggered in your mind. I have always felt every happiness exacts a counter balancing sadness. Great affection is accompanied by a larger sense of loss. But who would give up the happy moments, in order to avoid the sad?
Wonderful story Jeff. She must be a very strong woman. No one should have to bury a child, let alone 3.
And I also have to say, you've developed a style at least with these types of photos. I very rarely look at who the photo's by until later, mainly because I want to guess who took the photo. You've been hard to pin down, but I got you right on this one.
Great colours in this rural scene Jeff. I see that you are from Indiana. My husband grew up in Muncie, and I lived in Indiana for 3 years also (where we met) so I always like to see shots of Indiana - soft spot for it, for sure :)
Sounds like a super wonderful lady full of Grace and love! I love this shot. I also spent a couple weeks at farms each year and have great memories. My Aunts and Uncles were such gracious people. Who knew what they were really thinking when our horde of 6 kids showed up and invaded their homes, but they always welcomed us. I think farmer's wives are a special breed of people!
Fav....for the photo and the memory jog!
Today I kept thinking of my comment, and how I meant to convey your friend had an overdose of perspective-inducing pain. When faced with so much, "little" things like money, work, and status quickly fall to a distant memory.
Thanks for sharing those beautiful memories. This is gorgeous...a lovely tribute to Marie. Some people just seem to be given heavier burdens than others, don't they?
FAVed!
@jillmstruss yes, like super woman strong...knowing what she experienced, that's why I get fed up with people that get on the pity pot over losing a job, which sucks, granted, but it does not even compare to losing your family and home.
And I also have to say, you've developed a style at least with these types of photos. I very rarely look at who the photo's by until later, mainly because I want to guess who took the photo. You've been hard to pin down, but I got you right on this one.
Fav....for the photo and the memory jog!