February 7, 2017
In the interest of sharing positive stories and not complaining about farm life, I would like to record this bit of information for posterity: My husband left the farm for 72 actual hours last week, and no animal got out, had a calf or did anything it wasn’t supposed to do. Even the dogs (mostly) stayed home.
Everything went according to plan.
It’s some sort of a miracle, right? Because the typical situation holds that he would leave, and within 30 minutes, we’d discover cows running across the backyard. And I’d think, “Well, of course. Frankly, I’m surprised it took them that long.”
For sure, it’s as if they have some kind of radar. “Heads up, everybody. He’s gone. Commence early calving and assorted mischief.”
Last winter, John left for the National Farm Machinery Show with these parting words: “Nobody should calve yet. Should be fine. Nothing to worry about.”
Cue the radar.
Mere hours later, Jenna and I observed a heifer who was acting very suspiciously. I checked her a little later, having gotten children to bed and gone back to writing (deadlines!). Sure enough, two feet sticking out. You know what I didn’t have time for? Pulling a calf. And yet, there we were.
Much like the time the cows got out while we were at church, and Nathan stepped in. Or the time John and the big kids left for a show and Caroline and I got to chase cows. Or the other 5,285 times throughout my youth and adulthood when the farmer left the farm and the cows commenced to mischief.
So I offer up our most recent experience as proof — even to me — that sometimes things can go according to plan on the farm. Even if it’s just once.
Because sometimes, ya gotta cling to the victories.
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