By Bradley Robertson
In our little neck of the woods, our humble farm, quarantine life is pretty good. Grand actually, not perfect, but honestly grand. I have clearly seen what a joy and privilege it is to be separated simply by locality.
The farmer hasn’t left the county life in two weeks and I am holding down our family fort by cooking, schooling, reading, writing, keeping everyone and everything clean and improving the art of child discipline.
The kids wake daily to green pastures, sunshine and curiosity as to what their day may hold; a perspective we all see with new eyes. Our life really hasn’t changed at all, except for large detail; all that has been laid at our feet is a gift and our entire lives are changing.
My oldest son Braxton, now 13, has rounded himself up a calf. He did this on his own, with the love and support of my husband and Shep. He drove into the pasture in an old diesel truck, rope in hand, determined to bring a calf to the barn. He roped the well over 100-pound animal on the first try and today, Braxton and “Roper” are becoming friends.
Braxton created for himself a chore all his own. He drives the truck to check on her and feed her every morning, and at lunch and dinner. He’s been reading literature on how to care for her and what is the best calf diet. He has taken to brushing her and will soon pair her with our donkey in the hopes of halter breaking her. He is a bonafide farm boy. Independent, strong, determined and gritty.
Our sweet Sissy is nothing short of a country angel. She looks after Shep like a mother hen and she jumps quickly into all the farm action despite her being a girl. It’s her way of life. She knows nothing different than joining her daddy on a road trip in his old Mack truck to pick up a load of chicken litter to fertilize the farm. She pulls up her boots like the rest of them and takes on the matters of her day with certainty and joy.
And then there is Shep, he simply does it all. Up before the sun, he grabs a pair of holey jeans and a tee shirt, pulls on his red water boots and he’s out the door running; wide open. Feeding dogs, driving tractors, fixing bicycles, eating fudge pops, mowing grass, sucking down a Coca-Cola if he’s lucky and ending his day at our pond, soaking wet and belly laughing. He is full throttle all day. Innovative and eager. He sleeps good too.
The farmer and I even had our own farm date recently. We woke at 5 a.m., grabbed a cup of coffee and set off on foot to hunt down a turkey. We dressed in camo head to toe, a gun for each of us and the quiet, gray forest ahead. A new date night perspective: a whole other story to tell.
A great change is taking place all over East Alabama. We are set apart from people, families and businesses by physical distance but there is a sense of togetherness in the way in which we are doing life.
We are changing the way we live in our homes. We are cooking more meals and sitting around our tables more often. We are creating new and lively activities to engage with each other. We are learning more about what it means to be still and look into the eyes of our children and we are giving them space to just be themselves. We have all hit the pause button, literally, on a busy life.
Funny how we all use to say, “we’re just busy!” when asked “how are you doing?” Today is not the case, and I’m certain we are all better for it.
We are changing the way we see our neighbor and our healthcare workers. We are more mindful of the physical presence of people. We are more thoughtful of the health and wellness of others. We are more giving in a simple phone call to check on someone. We are paying close attention to the sacrifice and efforts of doctors and nurses. The everyday heroes of today.
Weren’t they always everyday heroes? And wasn’t our neighbor always important?
Businesses are changing in a scope they never fathomed. Their innovation moves everyday with the progression of time. Their eagerness to begin something new is backed by work, hard work they don’t want to leave behind. They are going bold into the future having absolutely no clue of what they will receive in return. They are thinkers and movers and leaders; showing us on the sidelines what it really means to not give up on something you believe in.
Physical distance, yes, but our social distance is keeping us together.
We are forever changed by the events of this season. Lives are being lost, people are really sick, school and sports have been taken away. We are shut off from much, but we are much more engaged than we were before. Engaged in each other. Engaged in time. Engaged in thought and work.
Are these maybe things we wanted all along?
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. I imagine all the changes since those words were written. I bet those guys would be proud of us. I bet they would toast to us and say, “Great job. Ya’ll keep on going!”
Let’s keep holding onto their words. The changes we are going through will only make is greater.