Fitness and foolish stubborness combined for an awakening in a predawn beach walk run
Land Memories
Chapter 51
Sometimes a moment can be found and experienced – relived. Carol, Karen, Madison, Lee
Perhaps it's the crossroads of another time
Maybe it's too lonely out here
But I can hear the voices of misery cryin'
Some day these highways will all disappear -
John Mellencamp – Ghost Towns Along the Highway John Mellencamp – Freedoms Road
Land Memories
“Come in the kitchen and have lunch before you leave. “
“We will. Madison how did you ever acquire all this stuff in just one summer?”
“It was a busy summer; you know that Lee.”
“Dad was right he said get a full-size bed. Pick up trucks are just pretend trucks anyway. If it can’t haul a load don’t drive it down the road.”
“You should write a country song with that line; Elly and Lizzie got you to perform many country songs.”
As they sat down Karen asked, “do you want water, iced tea, or milk?”
After she poured drinks for everyone, they began lunch. “Thanks Ms. Parker it has been a wonderful summer. I was pleased by how many people came out for the concert at the pavilion. Our group gathered a real following around here.”
“Pete made it an employee appreciation event and the demand from the public was very strong. Your appearances at the fairs and festivals drew notice. Parker’s Chill Pills catchy I guess, but now Ruth wants to sell a fruit flavored treat as chill pills. Your friend the drummer is a real character, adds a lot to your stage personality.”
“If he could also pay attention and not change our tempos.”
“Madison he is not the best, but he is fun and a friend since first grade.”
“You sounded great Karen. I was impressed; you carry the big voice for any solo.”
“Once you get roomie to stop being Miss Metropolitan Opera singer and find her female rocker voice. People loved the Ronstadt, Harris, Nicks, covers. Carol you suggested Grace Slick and Pat Benatar.”
“I always liked ‘White Rabbit’ and ‘Take Your Best Shot’, Lee seemed to enjoy leaning into classic rock.”
“I do get to play some great guitar solos. Elly and Lizzie could do a whole country bluegrass thing. We were able to flow through many styles. Madison could show off some of those classic rock keyboard intros if I found the right song. The Buffoons are getting together to put down another album. They want to end this year’s tour back at the Homestead like last year. Pete says it was a great kick off to the season “
“Pete told me he was excited it could happen again.”
“The band had a great time and it brings me home. Lizzie, Elly, and Karen are better singers than anyone in the Buffoons. I hope there is a second summer for the Chill Pills”
“How did you book all those events, Lee?”
“I called all the festivals. I am kind of a thing now, at least around here. All of them have stages set up and not much on the opening nights. Elly does weekend shifts and I agreed to do weeknights. Most of them want us back for a weekend night next year. I will have to check with Elly.”
“Madison did you enjoy your summer working at the Homestead?”
“My sketch events became a daily thing, the parents and kids seemed to love them. It has been wonderful, living here this summer. It is nothing like home. Ruth and Pete joke that I now know the working end of a horse. I have a new appreciation for horses and pickup trucks.”
“I’m not telling Ruth, but it was nice having a couple of horses back at the farm. You’re going to visit your parents?”
“Lee and I are moving some of my stuff in at school and then up to my parents. I haven’t seen them much since Spring. They were very supportive after seeing the recording on the porch. They liked our report and were pleased about my coming here for the summer. Karen may have gotten a great grade without me, but it was a total blow out for me. I am now being offered more projects in media production.”
“Thank you, for lunch, Ms. Parker thank you for the best summer of my life. “
“Thank you for the best summer of my life is how I feel. I am glad Karen kidnapped me out here to the middle of nowhere for a boring report.”
“You two stay safe, see you later.”
“Next summer if not before.”
“Karen let’s clean up and go for a ride. It is a nice cool day.”
Karen and Carol saddled the horses and began. Karen had learned a great deal about horses. She had known nothing before. She understood why Carol wasn’t sure they should stay; horses were a lot of work waiting for a perfect afternoon to ride.
“Why did you want go for a ride today?”
“I felt like recapturing old memories.”
“Are we going to ride through some of the spirits the land holds?”
“If you are open to sensing them, they are there.”
They rode down to the Hayes Place and up to the pond. It was a very lovely spot. Karen tried to quiet her mind just enjoy it. She tried to be sensitive to the land itself. She had learned to see and feel the land with a new appreciation this summer. Reading Carol’s odd diary and sorting through her memento box had made her more a part of this family. Standing in front of the mirror in the morning a presence, perception could be open to seeing and feeling far more than most modern people were aware. Riding out the drive knowing JB’s father had died there as well as a young woman. Seeing the old unused gate knowing that massive hedge post had been set by Eldon’s father. Karen knew these were memories she had learned. Carol told her to try and quiet her soul. Her horse didn’t require much direction she fell into the rhythm of the ride. As they turned there was a feeling of struggle. there and then passed. Looking around she knew these lands held the efforts of many straining to survive. Life held by a fate indifferent to their prayers. They rode on up to the gate. Karen dismounted and opened the gate as Carol held the reins to Droopy (his ears) and led him through. Karen shut the gate and remounted. They continued up to the pond. Karen caught another sense just as they approached the pond. A release, freedom, a warm feeling she thought a child’s immersion in the moment of joy. More time placing it to words than it lasted. A more perfect sense than the words expressed.
“I used to come up here often in weather like this. A late Sunday afternoon when I had a little time. Sometimes, I parked my truck in the drive over on Furniss Road and would walk up the holler. I drove in here many times, but there was a time when I rode up here almost every evening.”
“It is nice I have ridden up here a few times this summer. Madison got me to ride with her down to the Homestead on several mornings. I would take care of the horses. I would help them get ready for the day, then ride back. “
“We don’t need to tie them we can let them graze. I have a blanket, water, and some apples. A few for our horses when we are ready to go home. A good apple is a nice enticement to get them to come or stand as we are ready to ride back.”
Carol spread out their blankets and they laid down enjoying a breeze and a warm but not hot late summer afternoon. Karen laid back watching the few cumulus clouds form and transform. She simply admired their abstract shapes, trying not to anthropomorphize or characterize them, just observe. Carol seemed lost in a dream on her saddle bag pillow, but not asleep.
“Pleasant memories or are you sensing an ancient being, should I be getting my ghost detector out. I think I found one in the closet of old toys. It must have been when your boys were Ghostbusters.”
“They loved that cartoon; no cartoon amounts to much without accompanying toys. Pleasant memories no ghosts. Today makes it feel like I could almost step into them.”
“Want to relate your memories?”
“Now, that is stepping into a most private side. You already have the archive of stories.”
“I do it is fascinating; I did not mean to pry. You said you have a personal book.”
“When we get back, I will let you look at it. We share so much it is not prying. I will not live behind a series of facades. You describe your actress mother like that. I am your friend and we have a special relationship. I will tell you; you have respected my privacy. I let people have their space and you do as well. I was living back to the times I came here to swim. You see where there is still a sandy place down to the pond?”
"Oh, it is I hadn’t paid much attention.”
“It has been a long time since I had a load of sand brought up here. Grandpa Eldon had sand dumped up here. I did it again two or three times, but it washes into the pond and grass grows through it. Eventually it just makes the mud have a sandy texture. I used to swim in the pond on a day like this.”
“Isn’t the water cold?”
“By this time, it is warm, cold at first but pleasant after you are in.”
“Did you carry a towel and a bikini in your saddle bag?”
“I carried a towel.”
“No suit?”
“There was no need for a swimsuit up here.”
“You skinny dipped?”
“Old timers simply called it swimming or bathing. I was the hippie flower child, I had to try to capture the illusion of the Woodstock generation.”
“Did you ever get caught?”
“Max Greene was all stressed about a pond being a liability, and we would be sued. He rented the pasture and cropland. He went on a real crusade to keep people out. I never did see anyone up here that I didn’t know. I guess the answer is I was never caught by anyone I didn’t want to be caught by.”
“You swam with men; you had a tryst up here.”
“Karen my life is not a romance fantasy. I was not taken like some naïve water nymph of mythology. I swam many times alone. On some occasions, I invited a man. It was wonderful to come out of the water dry each other off then warm, excite, and satisfy each other. If I could step back into a memory and exist here, there is only one man. Only one I would choose. A memory I will linger in many times, especially up here.”
“It may not be the stuff of a romance novel, but it does sound very romantic.”
“Swimming by myself was just fun. In fact, I think we should get in the water, a baptism of the land for you.”
“You mean, now, naked.”
“I have towels in the bag. Re-imagine the wild days. My generation broke down all those barriers, you young people can be rather prudish. The water, I will warn, will be a shock when you first go in.”
Carol began to undress, Karen against her nature followed suit.
“I thought adults were supposed to be examples of model behavior for the younger generation.”
“Pretend you are Scandinavian.”
“Are you sure this is safe?”
“My advice would be not to drown.”
“Are there fish in there?”
“Yes, fish, turtles, and water skimmers, but not piranha or alligators. We’ll frighten most everything away. It is shallow and gradual to begin with but step with care. Here I am exposing my old, wrinkled, and weathered body and you are the one complaining.”
“It’s cold.”
“Wait a moment.”
They stood neck deep in the lake.
“How’s it feel now?”
“It feels good almost warm.”
“I haven’t done this in years, I may order more sand next year redo the little redneck riviera.”
“How do you know the water is safe?”
“This pond or lake, Grandpa called it a pond, so I do, is supplied by a small spring fed stream. It runs year-round. No livestock have access to the pond or source water. There are some farm tiles that flow into the stream before it gets here. I’ve been grabbing water samples for twenty almost thirty years. I document the water reports after I pay to have them tested. I want to be aware of what the chemical spray boys are up to. Organic and natural have practically no meaning in the consumer market. I think someday documentation of the production process will be essential. “
“This is fun. I am still a little worried about turtles. I did not know skinny dipping was a feature of summers here.”
“Just a secret you and I know. Best not to put it in the brochures.”
“I am guessing these wonderful men you swam with didn’t just show up on white stallions or something.”
“No very much normal real-world trysts as you phrased it. Karen, I regret nothing about my life. It would make no difference if I did have regrets. I don’t regret growing old; I am blessed and healthy. I only miss that opportunity of coming here with the man I loved and reliving the moments of complete passion and pleasure. If time and the demands of the world do not rob you of those opportunities, then age eventually will. Even if he were here, and we could slip away, we are not living in those young bodies anymore. It could never be the thrilling innocence we once had. My children, my family, my friends, my business are all more deeply satisfying than any afternoon of passion and lust. If the person is right and the opportunity is right, enjoy the pleasure, passion, and lust. People may regret immoral choices, but never passionate connections between two free and nakedly honest people. My husband was never honest with me, until the truth spilled out. I was always honest with him. I don’t regret those moments with him. I would never relive a memory bubble with him. I would only want the man I loved, and the one who truly loved me to exist in that bubble of memory. If I could step into it again. There are no regrets when those connections are possible.”
“Even if they can’t last?”
“Even if they can’t last. We both knew that going in. When we get out of here it will be cold again. I will toss you a towel.”
“OOO wow cold. The towel feels good. Now that I’m getting warmer, it was fun. I know not everyone has a little private lake but living out here is fantastic.”
“Jobs Karen, most people can’t find decent jobs in rural areas. We can eat the two apples I brought for us. We will see if our horses are interested in getting going. I bet they will soon come over to check on their apple opportunities.”
“Maybe if people were paid in apples, they would stay around.”
“Then the place would get crowded.”
photo Boyarov Family
