Thursday, February 20, 2014
The Farm
My whole family loved "the farm". It was my dad's property by the Oregon coast, just outside of Tillamook. My kids and their cousins have fond memories of campfires, swimming in icy cold creeks, catching frogs and butteflies and picking berries. My dad loved the farm. He spent many years there, content staying in a little trailer on the property. He look below to the meadow to look for deer, and at night I remember him searching the dark black sky for shooting stars. The farm is where my dad died, and where his ashes are scattered. Looking back I wish I had spent more time there with him. But for some reason, I did not love the farm. Instead of feeling peaceful and content there, I felt like a bug in a jar, and to this day I am not sure why.
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Rae, your specific examples of what people love at the farm really help to bring the farm alive!! Also, your description of what your Dad loved to do on the farm and your feelings are really great in helping emotionally connect with your story!!
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading, I wondered how much time you spent on the farm and also, as a writer, what inspired you to write this?
I wonder if you could expand even more about what the farm was like and maybe explore your experiences at the farm...just something I'd be interested to hear as a reader!!
Thank you!!
Thank you for sharing your writing! It sounds like the farm was a place for family gatherings and many memories. Does your family still visit the farm?
ReplyDeleteYou have really good examples of what your family enjoyed about the farm. It reminds me of my parents property where everyone goes for any type of family gathering.
I'm still curious about why your dad was so connected to the farm. I would also like to hear more about your experiences at the farm.
Your description of farm life makes me think of my childhood when I spent a lot of fun running around the rice field of my grandparents during summer time. Catching tadpoles, frogs, butterflies, and dragonflies was something I usually did with my cousins. These are precious memories for me! As I read your writing, I also wondered if you grew up at the farm. What are some positive and negative experiences you have at the farm? What does this farm mean to you?
ReplyDeleteI really like how you began the piece with some great memories of the farm. You explained how important the farm is to your family, especially with your dad's ashes scattered there. Honestly, my favorite part is the last line. I think that you could continue this piece talking about your memories of the farm and how different they are with the rest of your family. I love reading stories with a main character who is so different than the rest of the characters in the story. Great job!
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