The
wildflowers along the interstate applauded my journey
north. The
brilliant yellow and fiery red blooms, gathered in
patches along the
way, cheered me on.
I
took Highway 25 from Greenville and headed toward Bat
Cave and Hendersonville. I dreamed I was perched in a top-down
convertible, shifting gears as I climbed through the Blue Ridge
Mountains. Nevermind the fact that I had the air cranked up in my
4Runner as I added more miles to the 192,000 already traveled
behind the wheel.
Cave and Hendersonville. I dreamed I was perched in a top-down
convertible, shifting gears as I climbed through the Blue Ridge
Mountains. Nevermind the fact that I had the air cranked up in my
4Runner as I added more miles to the 192,000 already traveled
behind the wheel.
I
reached the exit in record time. Perhaps it was because I was
alone and not putting out fires of discontent on the way. This was
my first trip apple picking without one or both of my boys in tow. I
missed having them with me, but a new, stronger part of me, urged
me on.
alone and not putting out fires of discontent on the way. This was
my first trip apple picking without one or both of my boys in tow. I
missed having them with me, but a new, stronger part of me, urged
me on.
The
annual apple-picking trip in the fall represented a whole of
afternoon of yes when the boys were with me:
afternoon of yes when the boys were with me:
- Yes we can eat apples as we go.
- Yes you can pick as many as you want.
- Yes we can buy apple cider too, and apple fritters, and apple anything you want.
- Yes we can eat dinner at Sonic and get ice cream for the drive home.
Saying yes always makes for blissful times as a parent.
to raising kids. The days of yes come few and far between.
As
I walked along the rows of early Fuji’s and Galas filling a
half-bushel basket, I thought about the days of waiting for
moments just like this one. I pushed away the melancholy of not
having my boys with me and reveled in being alone. There were so
many times I dreamed of taking half-day trips alone when I was
knee-deep in travel ball and music lessons. I sat on the sidelines
and in parking lots waiting for what seemed like an eternity at
times.
half-bushel basket, I thought about the days of waiting for
moments just like this one. I pushed away the melancholy of not
having my boys with me and reveled in being alone. There were so
many times I dreamed of taking half-day trips alone when I was
knee-deep in travel ball and music lessons. I sat on the sidelines
and in parking lots waiting for what seemed like an eternity at
times.
I
didn’t miss holding my breath as the boys climbed to the top
of the trees for the apple on the top limb. I could stop and take
pictures wherever I wanted. I didn’t have to wander down every
row so it didn’t take me near as long to fill my little basket.
of the trees for the apple on the top limb. I could stop and take
pictures wherever I wanted. I didn’t have to wander down every
row so it didn’t take me near as long to fill my little basket.
I found joy in the solitude. I found a sweet spot saying yes to me.
We get to this point in life ready or not. We sit even further
away on the sidelines as we watch our children grow up. We have
to make a choice whether we will say yes or no to the dreams we
stowed away in our hearts while we made sandwiches and
Kool-Aid. I’m glad I said yes to picking apples alone.
Today’s
half-day trips may well turn into weekends away
tomorrow and new dreams and goals. And the taste of that is as sweet as biting into a just-picked North Carolina apple on a Saturday at the end of summer.
tomorrow and new dreams and goals. And the taste of that is as sweet as biting into a just-picked North Carolina apple on a Saturday at the end of summer.
