I felt a fine mist in the air as I began my morning walk on
a cool, almost October-like early morning.
We were in the Northwoods, in a cabin on Lake George a few miles from
Rhinelander. A gloomy, cloudy morning. Nothing stirring, not even the resident loons
on the lake.
As I walked the mist became heavier, and colder. I pulled up the collar on my jacket, pulled
down my cap and continued on, thinking it would soon stop, the clouds would
part and the morning sun would greet me.
The opposite happened.
The clouds thickened and the mist turned to a light and then a heavier,
very cold rain. I continued
walking. I had no choice; I was a half
mile from where we were staying.
Wet and uncomfortable when I finally plodded up the hill to
the cabin, I thought about my growing up years on the farm. No matter what we were doing: making hay,
cutting the oat crop, picking cucumbers, the rain prevented us from doing it,
but Pa didn't complain. When the rain came it was welcome on our sandy,
droughty central Wisconsin farm.
As I sat by the cabin window, drinking a cup of coffee and
looking at the falling rain over the lake, I remembered about how Pa always
appreciated the rain, no matter when it came, and how inconvenient it may have
seemed at the time. While I was grumbling, Pa was smiling.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Never curse the rain.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: It’s time to sign up for my writing class at
The Clearing (Saturday, November 1). It’s all about writing stories from your
life—to be shared with families, friends and more. Go to this link for further
information. http://theclearing.org/current/classes_workshop_description.php?id=3
If that doesn't work, write or call The Clearing:
12171 Garrett Bay Rd, Ellison Bay, WI 54210
(920) 854-4088.
12171 Garrett Bay Rd, Ellison Bay, WI 54210
(920) 854-4088.
UPCOMING
EVENTS:
July 23,
Jacksonport Historical Society, Mr. G’s, 6:00 p.m. Jacksonport, WI. Horse Drawn
Days
July 26,
Wild Rose Historical Society, Book signing, 10:00-2:00. Part of Wild Rose Days.
July 29,
Ephraim Historical Foundation. 7:00 p.m. Barns of Wisconsin.
August
2, Neillsville Library, 10:30 a.m.
Stories From the Land
August
20, Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. Madison. 5-7 p.m. Stories
From the Land. For more information: elindell@wisconsinacademy.org
Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his
Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fund
raiser for them):
The
library now has available both of Jerry’s DVDs, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps A Farm Story.
Also
available are several of Jerry’s book including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old
Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry
Apps a Farm Story).
Contact
the library for prices and special package deals.
1 comment:
Jerry,
Your story sounds incredibly familiar. In my inexperienced youth I once complained about a stretch of rainy weather and my Dad rebuked me, saying, "Never complain about rain here in Door County!" He was right, of course, as we are always on the edge of drought on this shallow, sandy rock we try farming on. I have now passed this bit of old timer wisdom onto my son. Thanks for jogging my memory.
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