Granddaddy

I took these pictures the summer of 1999 when Starr and I were in Tennessee visiting. Granddaddy was 91 years old at the time. No longer actively farming, he did hop to the rescue when the gentleman who rented the pasture’s vehicle was stuck and needed to be pulled/towed to a more solid location.

Granddaddy knew what needed to be done, and did it. I love that top picture…that smile! I think he was happy that I was there…no, I think he was happy to have an excuse to get on and use the tractor. And the bottom one? At 91 years old, crawling under the tractor to make an adjustment?? Awesome.

It’s All About the Boots

“Here, touch this.” He said grabbing a hold of the electrified fence designed to contain his herd of Black Angus cattle. My brother and I both took a step back shaking our heads, “no thanks” we mumbled.

He had his bare hand wrapped around the wire that I knew was carrying electric current. My brother and I lived on a farm in southern Minnesota, and we had a pony as well as a couple of boarded horses who resided on our pastures. I knew what an electric fence was, and I knew from experience what it felt like to touch one.

“Touch my hand,” he prompted, holding out his free hand towards us. Stepping back another step “nuh-uh, no way” we agreed. Pappaw wasn’t usually one for playing around, at least not in our limited experience. This was unusual. He is standing there, hand offered, seemingly unaffected by the current coursing through the wire.

Suddenly, (and in the moment…brilliantly!) I had this idea to grab my brother and drag/throw him towards Pappaw’s outstretched hand. And impulsively acted on it…

ZAP!

All three of us were suddenly grounded, and the electric current surged through each of us. My intention was to let go of dear brother before he actually touched Pappaw…you know…saving myself…fail! All three of us rolling around in the grass in helpless laughter…it was the freest, the most open, completely unrestrained by shyness, moment that I remember ever sharing with Pappaw.

This is the day that I learned about insulated boots.

Pappaw

When I was in ninth grade, Pappaw passed away. Pappaw was my mom’s dad, a quiet red-headed family man. What I remember most about Pappaw was his quiet presence, and his shirt pockets always full of stuff. He was a farmer who raised Black Angus beef cattle on his property located in western Tennessee. He was very active in his local Methodist church.

We didn’t live near them, and only visited once or twice a year. Unfortunately, because we were both introverts, I never was able to develop a really close relationship with him. I enjoyed walking in the pastures with him looking at the cattle, or doing a little fishing in one of the farm ponds. It seemed like the last couple of visits we were just beginning to move beyond the quiet and get to know each other. But then he was gone, suddenly. Fifty nine years old, and he had a fatal heart attack.

About ten years later, just after Starr was born, I had a dream of Pappaw. He visited me from the other side. We spent a long time talking. We discussed life, God, religion and the afterlife. I have never been comfortable with Christianity, instead following my heart and my head studying and feeling out different avenues of spirituality. In this dream he supported my beliefs and told me that I was just fine. Just as Christianity was fine for him.

I woke up from this dream feeling truly blessed. It felt so real and so true. Was it really him? Was it just a dream? I don’t know, and I don’t care. All I know is that it felt right.