Wide Open Spaces
Growing up on a farm was a child’s dream, especially for this farm girl. Living out in the country, far from the nearest town or city, we used our imagination and the farm fields to take us on great adventures. My parent’s house was surrounded by land that my brothers, sister and I had access to. We used to play hide and seek in the corn, swing from a rope in the hay mow, explore and play in other farm buildings, climb trees, build forts, ride bikes, mini-bikes and go carts. We even had our own swimming pool when my Dad let us scrub the large, iron cow tank and fill it with cold water; what a treat!
Until recently, there was a place I hadn’t thought about in a while, the Slew. After reminiscing with my brother, he mentioned the Slew was what farmer’s referred to as wet areas that weren’t farmable. The Slew was in the middle of the large piece of property adjacent to our house. We used the wet and swampy area as a playground, even though the land surrounding the Slew was planted and harvested each year. Right smack dab in the middle of the property was an old dirt road, we referred to as Slew Road.
This week, I happened to be on Slew Road. It’s no longer made of dirt and potholes, but is now paved smooth and very wide, lined with trees and a sidewalk, which is directly to the east of the Slew, that still exists. You would hardly recognize it now since it’s grown in height and size. Years of memories flooded back as I took it all in.
Several years ago my parents sold some of their property; including the Slew. During our childhood we would ice skate on the pond in the winter and have sea-worthy adventures during the summer. In order to get to the Slew, the shortest route was straight through the field, about a half mile from home. We would haul whatever we needed for our latest adventure through the field or alongside the edge and down Slew Road when the crops were tall. Whether it was shovels, brooms and ice skates during winter, or lumber and rope in summer months for rafts that would take us to world’s far away.
As I slowly drove up and down the road, it looked very different, yet oddly the same. Remembering those days and reliving some of the memories with both my brothers this week made me aware and appreciate the joy we created as our own sibling-hood. The wide open spaces of our farm provided us with adventure that took us to fantastic destinations in our minds. What memorable moments do you have as a child? Think back on those precious memories and connect again with those that helped create them. What a blessing to have rediscovered the Slew all over again. If only I could hop on a raft with Greg, Cindy and Jeff and sail away to the other side of the world, even if only for a day.
xoxox…..Sheryl