It’s
true. As we were packing to leave the farm on Sunday (Oct. 11), Mike said, “I
just need your electronics.” I proceeded to pack them up – laptop, iPad, all
cords and chargers, my study books, our supply list for the next trip – all neatly
settled into the big black carrying case. Unpacking in town, Mike said, “We left
your laptop.” I took a moment to reflect and stifle swearwords. He went on to
say he had left a place for it while packing, and it wasn’t there. I had no
memory of carrying out to the pick-up.
Frankly,
had it been up to me, I’d have driven right back to the farm for it. But the
ever-practical (and frugal) Mike said, “We’ll go back on Wednesday.” And I
decided I wouldn’t utter any words of disappointment or let a few days without
my devices destroy my productivity. Instead, I picked up where I left off on my
latest crochet project, the scrap afghan, and will soon finish it. And I scrubbed the kitchen and utility room floors on
my hands and knees.
We
did have a discussion on elder forgetfulness. It’s scary. It’s different than
younger forgetfulness because you simply can’t hold as much in your mind. As
with packing my laptop, you tend to dismiss tasks before they’re finished.
Distraction is the worst – trying to visit while tasking, perhaps answering a
question or leaving a task to do something else, etc. Or, you think you’ve done
something and you haven’t. You go to write something on a list, another thought
comes in, and you can’t remember what you were going to write in the first
place. Keeping stress to a minimum is helpful but not always possible.
Well,
we came back to the farm yesterday (Wed., Oct. 14), and I was reunited with my
laptop and all the wonderful things it holds – documents, patterns, embroidery
designs, etc., plus my connection to family and friends. Fortunately it was
safely in the house -- right on the dining room chair where I left it. (Last winter I left my book satchel on the porch,
including window wax that isn’t supposed to freeze.)
Farmer
Kyle knocked on our door last night, and we had a nice visit. We discussed how
warm it is for October – and how dry. Regionally, we remain at risk for wild
fires. He said he’s never done fall work in the dust before. We haven’t had a
frost yet, and gardens, though slowing, have been productive long beyond the
usual date. With this trip, I picked a handful of small tomatoes and a few
strawberries. I should water but I’m tired of that drill.
Kyle
said he doesn’t know what next season's crop will be on our place – maybe spring wheat. KW
[The photos here were taken at the MWHomestead one evening last week.]