Stick with me here-that’s not a typo. You read it correctly. “What” did you want to be is the usual focus, what career or job when you “grow up”. The whole “grow up” thing is a questionable concept. I think it would have a better impact on our souls if we asked children WHO they want to be when they grow up. You know-good human, questionable human? But I’m curious. Where did you want to be when you grew up?
As a little girl, a car ride in the country in the family station wagon was an occasional Sunday treat that I loved! We would pile into the car, cram it full of people in every space available and away we would go. I was often in the middle of the front seat, between mom and dad-which I much preferred compared to the far back end with multiple brothers. We went through the farmlands near the river flats, up through the hills, as I looked all around and dreamed. It felt like hours to me. I’m certain it was much less time because gas wasn’t free, a car full of kids, etc., etc. I loved our car rides, but like many things from early childhood those good memories got buried as time moved on.
Fast forward a few decades when my husband and I purchased a parcel of land in the country. It was a dream come true for him. He was so excited to move our family out of town! All we had to do was clear trees so thick I once got lost on the property, hire a builder to co-build with us, (my husband never takes the easy road) and do everything that parenting three kids, working and life required. Easy peasy lemon squeezy right?
One day chatting with my dad about life (as I often did in adulthood) and all that had to be done, instead of offering advice (which to his credit he rarely did) he said something like “I’m glad you’re going to get there.” Huh? I was confused. “You know-kids, dogs, tomatoes…” There I sat, staring at him, looking at the twinkle in his eyes as the memories of those car rides came flooding back. “And books!” I replied. His grin was infectious and soon we were both laughing, reminiscing about those car rides-the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. He told me that he and mom always chuckled that I didn’t say I was going to grow corn, raise cattle, pigs, chickens, or any of the typical things you think of on local farms. Did I mention I was a quirky kid? It went something like this: “When I grow up, I’m going to live out here and it will be quiet, and the trees will be pretty, and I’ll have lots of trees and a big yard and grow stuff.” And, and, and… When asked what I would grow I replied, “Kids, dogs, tomatoes…and books!” My favorite things of course. Isn’t that what all six-year-olds want? Dad never forgot that and helped me to remember no matter how much work it would be, living “in the country” was my dream too.
So, we did it. We got through the hard stuff and although living outside of town isn’t always easy, it is almost always peaceful. And guess what? A couple of decades later, “Kids, dogs, and tomatoes” have all grown on this land. And books! Books have always been involved whether it was reading to my own kids, teaching students to read and write or writing my own stories, books are here to stay. Afterall, the next generation is coming along and looking for a good story and their own place in the world. I found mine here at Little Amos Acres. WHERE is your dream?
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