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This note came from a girl
who almost married my nephew. She was special. Here is the old porch of
which she speaks:
http://stonescry.tripod.com/ranch02PorchFront.html
Well, I have this to say.
Dad sure had a spirit about him of generousity and kindness. "Come on up,"
he would tell anyone he had invited to fish in the watershed, "We'll open
up a keg of nails." Today he would be thrilled at the prospect that even
years after his death someone was enjoying the work of his hands on this old
rock porch.
I ran into the daughter of
the Roper family who had lived on the mile corner. She told me her
brother was buried in that old cemetery across from the ranch house and she
had asked Dad to fence it in because the cattle were walking over the
stones. She said when she went back there was a taunt fence all around the
place and I supposed that was the last time it was fenced. This women is
around 85 herself, now.
When I was buried in sorrow,
one day, while walking around the old ranch house yard I realized Dad
wasn't there anymore and that he would have encouraged me to work on my own
place so that others could enjoy it just as they enjoyed fishing in the
watershed. There certainly is no mansion here at my home and no watershed
where they can fish. The house is small and will not allow anymore than 26,
but to enjoy good food, friends and family around the table or lounging
under the old apple tree we planted 30 years ago is almost as good as that
home on the prairie. An apricot tree is coming along and maybe as the apple
tree goes there will still be a quiet shady place where my guests can slip
away from their worries to renew their resolve to rise again against their
own terrors.
Here's this womans note which
I plan to print and save.
Donna,
It is turning fall here (New Mexico) and we have had some rare rains and
humidity...Yesterday morn was wet and grey and so felt like Oklahoma. Then
yesterday afternoon I drove out and sat by the creek crossing below my old
home in Capitan and for a moment I was down on the water crossing by Pauls
pasture, Deja Vu.....uncanny how we can suddenly be in another place!!! I
still miss it there...more than I ever imagined I could!
I hope you know that the time
I spent at your old place cutting woood and sitiing on that old porch was my
salvation and some of the true comfort I had to have to get through the hard
lonely times...how special that place is. I hope that (surely) someday one
of your family will return there to build a new home....and keep the old
porch for the sitting place!!!
Do give family and everyone
else my love when you see them and have them give you a hug from me as well.
Love always,
C. |
