Life, I’ve decided, is made up of feelings and stories.
Here are some feelings and stories that I especially liked today:
1.) This morning, I woke from a deep, deep sleep and lifted my head to see the most brilliant sunrise I’ve ever seen, streaming through the barn windows that in less than three days I’ve come to call home. As I waited for our ever-fearless leader, Ann, to wake us up with the rousing chorus of “I’m comin’ out” (Diana Ross, you’ve become the soundtrack of our trip--but pretty much only those three words.) I opened the book I’m currently reading to pass the time. It’s a coming-of-age story, it’s a love story, and it’s a finding yourself story. If you’ve never woken up in a barn and watched the most glorious sunrise and then read a book about two people falling in love on the Appalachian Trail while listening to Spotify’s “Morning Acoustic” playlist, I highly recommend you try it immediately. It’s a feeling you won’t soon forget. I promise.
2.) While waiting for the rest of the group to sleepily stumble their way into the kitchen, I couldn’t help but strike up a conversation with my new favorite people in the whole world, our wonderful, kind, energetic hosts, Kevin and Barb. They remind me so much of my own grandparents that I can’t help but feel such a kinship with them. The conversation took a few twists and turns and I found myself telling them the story of my great-grandfather. It’s a long story that doesn’t need to be repeated in this post, but Kevin caught the point that my grandparents met this guy on the internet (the story has a good, not creepy ending, I promise!). He’s the mayor of a town in Germany near the Hurgten Forest, where my great-grandfather was killed in World War II. Kevin got up from the table and emerged a few seconds later from the office with a map in hand. “Where was this town again?” he asked, unfolding the map. After a quick text to my grandparents to locate the nearby towns, we found them on the map. I settled into my chair, listening to Kevin tell story after story about his travels and adventures while Barb heated up some more of her incredible biscuits and Kevin’s somehow even more incredible bread. Carbo-loading is real, y’all, and it is because of Kevin and Barb. I have approximately zero issues with it. Soak it all up--the homemade black raspberry jam and the stories alike.
3.) After making friends with a snake called Mr. King and a seizure-prone dog named Herbert and meandering our way up a two-mile walk, stopping all the way to learn about new plants and rocks (some of these rocks were on the bottom of the ocean floor! and now they’re in the middle of Ohio! NATURE IS SO COOL YALL!!!!), we made it to the top of Raven Rock. We explored the area under the expert tutelage of our new naturalist friend, Jenny, and, as always, Kevin and Barb. They’re all such a wealth of knowledge. Honestly, who needs Google when you have Kevin. Kevin.com is a new thing and this group is trademarking it. It will be the next big thing--just you wait. One thing I have remembered on this trip is the importance of seeing the view--all the sweeter when you worked to get there.
4.) Little moments are the ones that make life special. Drinking milkshakes (and french fries...and mozzarella sticks...and corn dogs) from a storefront off a random highway is a great little moment.
5.) After coming back to the farm (there’s really nothing like rounding the corner and seeing the red barn and white house with red shutters come into view), I went upstairs to the barn to have a little bit of much-needed introvert time. An hour and a half later I woke up. Naps are great and should happen often. The world would definitely be a much better place if everyone took a few more naps.
6.) Eating Indian food from a Kentucky gas station is a great story. Indian food from said Kentucky gas station is also great.
7.) As part of preparing the lettuce beds to plant, Kevin and Barb burn the soil and then plant the lettuce in the ashes. We were lucky enough to be able to participate in this annual tradition, and it’s a feeling I’ll not soon forget. Most of the time I was pretty sure my hair and/or face and/or clothing was about to catch on fire, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices in life, and this was a sacrifice I was more than willing to make. And just to assuage any fears--none of the above caught on fire. Later in the evening as the fire died down, Kevin brought out his guitar. He played old country songs and his raspy voice carried through the valley as the fire crackled behind me. It was magical, and I think if I could feel that feeling for the rest of my life I would be extremely happy indeed.
These were just some of the feelings and stories from today. Today was one of the days that remind you of the good in humanity. Try to have lots of those days. Speaking from experience, they’re pretty great.
Jenn, slightly smelling of bonfire, butter chicken, and fruit punch Starbursts
