Dusty Roads to the Heart

The suitcases stood on end at the back door. A clothes bag hung on the peg along the wall. All sizes of pretty wrapped packages sat on the bench beside the suitcases. It was still pitch black outside when the alarm went off at 5:30. Mark gave it a punch, rolled over and put his arms around me. "Honey this is the day we head north." he whispered into my ear. "Yep...tomorrow Bret will be a married man! Can you really believe that? Married! Well he chose well! Emma is such a sweet girl and so much like Bret!" "Better get up and get started!" he said sitting up and pulling on his jeans and shirt. "Could you handle the sows and farrowing shed chores this morning? I need to put a few extra bales out before we go, plus run the feed wagon. We should try and leave by 10, don't you think?" "I suppose...What time are we to be at the rehearsal supper?" I asked stretching then throwing off the covers. "I'm remembering around...

Our farmhouse was buzzing! Kate was carrying things out to her Buick and Mark was making sure he had all the hammers, nails, boards, levels, and bolts he needed in the white pick up. Today we were moving Kate into her college dorm. She was going to share a room with her school friend Melinda. "Well I think I have everything ready. Do you Kate?" Mark asked "Where is mom?" "Last I saw her she was running around in circles in the house! Yes, I'm just about ready," Kate said standing there looking into her loaded down car. I took one more final look around the kitchen, grabbed up my water and purse and walked to the door. "Sure hope I didn't forget something important," I muttered to myself as I closed the door and turned to Kate and Mark, "Is everyone done in here?" before I locked it and walked toward them. "Where do I ride?" I asked walking down the porch steps. "You'll have to be with dad in the pick...

The cake was home. The ingredients for the orange julius punch were in the refrigerator. Kate's purple gown hung in the hallway closet along with her cap with its purple and white tassel. Bret and Peter had arrived safe and sound around 9:00 tonight. Now I lay next to my husband, listening to his soft snoring and the laughter coming up from the basement. I just laid there in the darkness for a long time...thinking. Remembering that day many years ago when Mark and I both stood at the end of the drive way, watching our little boy walk proudly up to the bus driver and announce, "This is my sister Kate. She starts kindergarten today." Then we watched as they walked through that school bus door and into the brand new world of school. Now Bret was just about a college graduate and Kate would walk out of SE for the last time on Sunday. They both seemed to have serious friendships. I was so glad. Mark and I really liked both Emma and Peter. Not only them but their parents. I...