After dropping off the family at the airport, I was on my own. After the quick hour drive, I was at the farm. I hopped out and asked what I could do, thinking they’d maybe introduce me to my room so I could set down my things. Instead, the young man, who I later found out was Aaron, told me to help pull rotten tomatoes off these tomato plants. I didn’t complain, I mean, is this not what I signed up for? I got introduced to the rest of the team: Tyler, Hunter, Dan, Joann, and Emily. Aaron, Tyler, and Hunter are paid employees there while the rest are volunteers. Once the time reached one, we all got a quick bite to eat then I was able to settle in my room.
Later in the day, I was feeling adventurous enough to try and find the private lake on the property. To get to the point: I got lost. Of course, I found my way back being the ultra-skilled outdoorsman I am. On my trek back to the house I wandered into the neighbor’s fields. The scenery, paired with a nice breeze, kept my spirits high (even though I was fully confident in my ability to reach home).
I made it to the farm just in time to attend Miss JV’s birthday. JV is the ideal Southern grandmother; just the perfect amount of sweetness with a pinch of sass. She’s a terrific cook always broadening my taste palate. Since I’ve been here, I have maybe had 20 new foods. For those who don’t know, foods are different here in the South because they have what is known as “twang”. But anyways, I am getting off track.
It was real nice having her big 75th here at the farm. I got to meet many new people, all of which had a great story to tell. The day was full of singing, chatting, and of course, eating southern BBQ! Plus, I got to exaggerate how terrible and bleak the winters of Wisconsin are. I claimed that some days we couldn’t leave the house because heavy snow was blocking the door. If we did want to leave, we had to go through the window (usually the second-story window because the snow was so high).
It was very heartwarming to be a part of a day so important to so many people. Everything was very sincere and I couldn’t ask for a better way to spend my first Saturday at the farm.
I got to spend my Sunday afternoon dipped in the river that flows alongside my grandparent’s house. And lemme tell you, after doing yard work in the 90+ degree heat, 60% humidity, and practically wearing my sweat, the river couldn’t feel any better. I wasn’t alone down there either, families had also found refuge in the water from the piercing rays of the sun. It was a good day.
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