Personal Musings

My computer died a few days ago. And so, I am in the library posting this weekly blog. I decided that instead of the usual message, I would get more personal and tell you a bit about my summer.

As many of you know, I am a blueberry farmer and we just finished an eight and a half week season, picking over 3800 pounds of berries. It was a bumper crop this year, despite an artic freeze this spring, when the temps went down to 10 degrees, very rare for North Carolina. Some blueberry farms a little south of me didn’t even open this year because of it. I suspect that their blossoms were further opened than mine, making them more vulnerable to the cold.

Why am I telling you these two things? Because as I reflect upon the past few months, I realize that any worry I may have had was needless. While other farmers scurried to protect their blossoms during that cold snap, I just called upon the fairies to protect my crop. I envisioned a warm blanket over them. I knew it was possible that I wouldn’t have any berries this summer. But not worrying about the outcome and trusting that all would be well, was the best thing I could do. (And honestly, I still do not excel at being free from worry, but I’m working hard on that!!)

The day my computer died, my morning meditation gave me the message that ‘all is well, not to worry’. I reflect upon that and wonder if I was being prepared for the upcoming challenge with the computer. They know me so well, my Tovarysh! But on the bright side, I got through my blueberry season with a functioning computer. And we were able to retrieve all the data from the failing hard drive. I may be without  connection for a few days, but maybe that is what I need as my body begins to recover from the season.

Do I still have a lot of farm work? You bet! But the pace will be slower as I transition from farmer to writer/teacher in the off-season. I can continue to watch the twin fawns come and go in the blueberry patch. There is a young buck too, a beautiful boy, who is part of the herd of deer who feast daily in that blueberry patch. Rabbits, too, who freeze at the sight of my dog. Lucky for them, she is getting older and no longer has the speed to catch them, though she gives it her best try.

The tobacco farmers near me are gearing up to harvest, as I am winding down. I always love this time, when I know that hard work is behind me and there is a massage waiting for me in the near future.

If there is one thing that farming has taught me, it is that I am not in control, and going with the flow is the path of least resistance. Mother Nature has taught me so much about the cycles of life. I feel so much a part of this natural world. I feel loved and protected and connected to something much larger than myself.

Thank you so much for following this blog. Hopefully, next week we will be back on-line. If not, I’ll use my imagination to come up with another way. Till then, allow yourself to be free.

Give yourself a respite from worry and fear. Believe me, I’m there with you, being given opportunities for growth daily.

Be well, My Dear Readers. Sending you all loving thoughts, my fellow travelers, on this physical journey.