POND FARM
Speaking with a friend
in Europe not long ago, she was commenting on all the snow melting into
slush. And how something so beautifully romantic and snug as watching
the snow falling, could turn so quickly into a dangerous hazard. It
sounded like a lot of relationships I've viewed, romantic yet
hazardous.
I am a long way from snow country now, though I have also enjoyed a few years living in Europe. As a vegetarian back then, I somehow found myself living on a cattle farm. This has now happened a couple of times. Mrs Reed owned the farm and her sons ran it. They also had their own butcher shop, down near the road.
My job was as Mrs Reed's companion and carer. That was the start of many years to follow, of me working in palliative care, but I didn't know that then. My role included obvious things like washing, cooking, cleaning and general housekeeping. Weekly I also helped Mrs Reed into the front of the ute then loaded Betty, the old german shepherd, into the back and off we went to bingo.
There were doctor's appointments and meeting friends here and there too. Most of my time with the Reeds though was through winter, and I was told, one of the coldest winters in years. So the bulk of our time was spent inside.
My afternoon's off were interrupted daily by Mrs Reed calling out that Oprah was on and getting me to sit with her. And of course there were her teeth, which were misplaced regularly in the oddest and most random places. We laughed a lot that winter.
Elderly people are usually quite curious as to why I was a vegetarian (as I was in those days. I am a vegan now). I don't often talk about it to those who don't ask, but to those who do, I am always very honest as to what I have viewed first hand in the food journey, growing up on cattle and sheep farms, witnessing numerous other things throughout my life that only added to my veggie beliefs, and of course there is my own health and the health of the planet.
When I had finished explaining, that was it. Mrs Reed declared her vegetarianism on the spot. This of course was not something easy to then explain to a family of butchers. In the end, she settled for meat one day a week, fish a couple of days and eggs sometimes. I meanwhile cooked up heaps of vegetarian feasts that we both devoured and laughed over.
There were days through that winter that I struggled hugely with being so cooped up. As soon as my elderly friend was down for her afternoon nap, off I'd go for a couple of hours, walking field after field through the snow. Despite growing up in the Australian heat, I used to feel rather at home on this farm with all of its snow and slush. It was especially good to be back on acreage.
As cows walk passed my window now, I can't help but think back to those days of snow falling on the cottage, an old dog with arthritis, vegetarian feasts and Mrs Reed's missing teeth.
She now rests in peace. Yet she is very much with me today as I think back to our time.
Age never has to be a barrier in friendships. I feel blessed for all of my years nursing dying or elderly people and for the friendships formed. Life is very different now for me, but I value all I have experienced as it has all helped to bring me to who I now am.
Thank you for dropping by and sharing in this nostalgia with me. May you also enjoy many fine memories of your own. If life gets too hard and you need time out, draw on something special from your box of memories, and do a little reminiscing.
Sending loving kindness out to those long passed is not time wasted. Your love is still received. Just don't forget to send some to yourself also.
I am a long way from snow country now, though I have also enjoyed a few years living in Europe. As a vegetarian back then, I somehow found myself living on a cattle farm. This has now happened a couple of times. Mrs Reed owned the farm and her sons ran it. They also had their own butcher shop, down near the road.
My job was as Mrs Reed's companion and carer. That was the start of many years to follow, of me working in palliative care, but I didn't know that then. My role included obvious things like washing, cooking, cleaning and general housekeeping. Weekly I also helped Mrs Reed into the front of the ute then loaded Betty, the old german shepherd, into the back and off we went to bingo.
There were doctor's appointments and meeting friends here and there too. Most of my time with the Reeds though was through winter, and I was told, one of the coldest winters in years. So the bulk of our time was spent inside.
My afternoon's off were interrupted daily by Mrs Reed calling out that Oprah was on and getting me to sit with her. And of course there were her teeth, which were misplaced regularly in the oddest and most random places. We laughed a lot that winter.
Elderly people are usually quite curious as to why I was a vegetarian (as I was in those days. I am a vegan now). I don't often talk about it to those who don't ask, but to those who do, I am always very honest as to what I have viewed first hand in the food journey, growing up on cattle and sheep farms, witnessing numerous other things throughout my life that only added to my veggie beliefs, and of course there is my own health and the health of the planet.
When I had finished explaining, that was it. Mrs Reed declared her vegetarianism on the spot. This of course was not something easy to then explain to a family of butchers. In the end, she settled for meat one day a week, fish a couple of days and eggs sometimes. I meanwhile cooked up heaps of vegetarian feasts that we both devoured and laughed over.
There were days through that winter that I struggled hugely with being so cooped up. As soon as my elderly friend was down for her afternoon nap, off I'd go for a couple of hours, walking field after field through the snow. Despite growing up in the Australian heat, I used to feel rather at home on this farm with all of its snow and slush. It was especially good to be back on acreage.
As cows walk passed my window now, I can't help but think back to those days of snow falling on the cottage, an old dog with arthritis, vegetarian feasts and Mrs Reed's missing teeth.
She now rests in peace. Yet she is very much with me today as I think back to our time.
Age never has to be a barrier in friendships. I feel blessed for all of my years nursing dying or elderly people and for the friendships formed. Life is very different now for me, but I value all I have experienced as it has all helped to bring me to who I now am.
Thank you for dropping by and sharing in this nostalgia with me. May you also enjoy many fine memories of your own. If life gets too hard and you need time out, draw on something special from your box of memories, and do a little reminiscing.
Sending loving kindness out to those long passed is not time wasted. Your love is still received. Just don't forget to send some to yourself also.
