SURPRISE—Sunday | Life on a Colorado Farm

When Terry’s Dad passed away, Misty (our youngest daughter) who was terribly fond of her Grandpa, was horribly sad at his passing. Terry’s Mother, recognized that terrible sadness so she gave to Misty, Jack’s pick-up.

Misty and Kelly drove it for awhile, then gradually it started sitting in the garage; Misty wanted to get it restored sometime in the future. (You know how futures go–futures are way down the road when you are retired. First comes jobs and babies, then school age children, and buying houses and other vehicles, then college educations for those kids.)

Now that Misty and Kelly have left and new renters are coming in Terry mentioned one afternoon to Jason, Shannon, and I that we (meaning he and I) were going to have to go down there and pull that old truck up here and park it in the shade of the barn.

Time passed.
Farm work took over, the painting of the house took over, irrigation took over…the need to pull the truck up here was sorta shoved to the background.

Every day there was something which must be done.

Then comes the day as Terry is planting the corn in the field by the house and I was mowing MY lawn, that I looked down the road by the other house and SAW the old truck making it’s way up to OUR HOUSE!

What a surprise! Quickly I headed to the field to flag Terry down, but he was planting (his back to the road, couldn’t take his eyes off or the rows would be crooked), so didn’t see me or the truck heading our way!

Finally he was at the end of the field and saw me waving to him, just then the old truck, complete with two hound dogs, was in the driveway, and headed out to the field

A large smile broke out on Terry’s face-he jumped down off the tractor and headed toward the truck. (Later he said for a second he thought it was his Dad, he could see the driver had on a cap which tricked his eyes to think “DAD”!) As a cool surprise and a little gift to Terry, Jason had got the truck running and drove it up here for Terry.

After a short ride to the canyon and back the old truck is safely parked up here, resting in the shade of the barn—-waiting patiently for that day way, way in the future.

A surprise all wrapped up in a memory!

Your Friend,

Linda

Friday night, late….late…late we heard the alarm on the very long lane leading from the main road to our house.

Ding! It didn’t last long so we didn’t get up to see what or who was coming down the drive-way. Over the years we have learned that hunting cats, night birds, neighbor dogs and grazing deer will set the “Company’s Coming” alarm off.

Terry stayed right in his lazy-boy watching TV, Boomer only raised his head and went right back to sleep, Monkey and Sam didn’t even stir. I thought about going to see what set off the alarm, but decided the book I was reading was more interesting.

A few minutes later Boomer rose up with a happy yip and big tail wags just as the back door opened and a little voice called: “GRANDPA! GRAMMY! Are you asleep”? Terry, myself, and Boomer all rushed into the kitchen, while the two cats scrabbled to hide under the bed.

By the time we got to the kitchen the youngest grandchild was flinging off her coat and kicking off her boots. Then Blade was inside…carrying the huge duffel bag stuffed with overnight clothes and next day clothes for he, his two sisters and his Mom.

By this time Tally had jumped into her grandpa’s arms and Linky was pushing herself through the back door; past Blade to give me a HUGE HUG!!!

Then Blade grabbed Grandpa, Tally, Linkin and myself– giving us all a giant hug!

“What is this all about?” Grandpa asked.

Mom-mom was now in the door looking exhausted and wore-out, but wearing a very pleased smile….”Happy Birthday, Mom!”

“YES! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRAMMY!” those precious voices chimed in.

What a special and very much unexpected surprise!

“Just over-night”,, Mom-mom warned…we must get back to Craig (Colorado) by six on Saturday since we have an important function to attend.

Saturday morning flew by and it was suddenly time for lunch. They wanted to take us out for a late-birthday celebration so down to Pizza Hut we drove—taking the new by-pass which ends right across from Pizza Hut.

Suddenly ….the party was over—waving good-bye we watched their van enter the traffic on main street and speed away toward Grand Junction. Knowing they had a three-hour drive from here…first to Grand Junction, then to Rifle, after that Meeker, and finally home at Craig.

Gosh, that was nice!

Your friend on a farm in Western Colorado,

Linda