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 pickup," Kate said running around to the driver's side. "The front seat is kind of full."
"Okay. Here are a couple of cookies in case you get hungry," I said throwing the bag into the front seat.
"Why don't you go first, and we will follow." Mark interrupted. We were off. When we returned this evening it would just be Mark and me. Life had made a complete circle and now he and I were right back to where we used to be. Just him and me. I looked over at my husband. I loved that gentle face, that tiny little balding spot on top of his beautiful head. those strong but gentle arms that had held me so many times and told me "we will make it...just you see." My husband, my best friend.
I stuck my feet up on the dashboard and took a drink from the cup setting in the cup holder. "Well husband," I said "do you realize we are right back to where we started? Just the two of us will be coming home tonight. Just the two of us will be sitting at the table in the morning?"
"Do you know that I am going to treat you out to a chili dog at Sonic tonight Mrs. Beck?" he said turning to look at me, that smile on his lips. Bless his heart! He remembered that my best date was to Sonic and my favorite food was a chili dog!
After driving the couple hours through beautiful pasture land and hills, we turned off of the interstate and followed Kate back through the hills and trees to her destination. The traffic was horrible. It seemed like we were stopped at stop lights forever. We would creep up to take our turn to go and the light would turn red before we got through. There were cars, pickups, and trailers everywhere.
"I hope we can stay with Kate in this mess," I said
"I'm sure we will," he answered shifting to a lower gear.
The campus was beautiful. Large trees dotted the dark green lawns. Limestone buildings sat here and there over the beautiful span of grassland. Benches sat under the oak and walnut trees. And people! People were everywhere!
"Kate said her dorm was called Elm," I said sitting up in my seat looking around.
"Yea I think she said it was just south of University. We'll keep a look out for it but knowing Kate she will drive right to it," Mark said slowing down to get into the other lane.
Sure enough, Kate soon pulled into the parking lot. To the left, setting back among large oak and maple trees was a three story white stone building. Out front was the large sign "Elm". Mark signaled, looked in the rear view mirror and pulled into the lot.
"Well we made it," Mark said hopping out of the pickup and joining Kate. "Do you think we should go up and check things out first?"
"It would be a good idea I guess," Kate answered looking around. " Its room 360 so it will be on the third floor. We could see if Melinda and her mom and dad are here too."
So we joined all the other moms, dads and girls as we made our way up the wide sidewalk and into the front doors. The big clock on the lobby wall said 9:43. We had made good time. We made our way over to the stairs and through the door and up three flights of steps. The hall was busy with people carrying boxes, TV's, stereos, and apartment size refrigerators, There were back packs and girls carrying clothes draped over their arms.
We made our way to room 360. The door was ajar so we opened it and walked in. In the middle of the empty room was boxes piled one on top of the other, a small TV sat to the side of the pile. A level and hammer leaned up against the boxes. But there was no one to be seen.
"Well they must have beat us here," Mark said stepping inside and looking at the pile of boxes and picking up the level and putting it back down. "We just as well start hauling things in. We have a full day ahead of us for sure."
That started the task of "moving in"! The girls wanted loft beds, leaving room for their desk's underneath. Steve and Mark worked at that job while the girls and us ladies hauled things up the three flights of stairs. Jo and I went to Lowes a number of times for things the men needed to complete their task. At noon we brought McDonald sandwiches to the room and had a regular little picnic there among all the tools, 2x4's, boxes and whatever else.
By early evening that 12' x 20' bare room was changed into a cozy, cheery, girls living quarters. On opposite sides of the room stood big 4 x 4 posts with 2 x 6's running length ways to each one. A piece of plywood lay over the 2 x 6's and the mattress on top of that. Underneath was the girls' desks and chairs. A small refrigerator sat in one corner and the small TV was under the window. Two large colorful bean bags were tossed up in the other corner.
As the evening sun shown in through the window, Steve and Mark started to sort out the tools and gather up the levels, drills, and left over lumber. It took a couple trips to the pickup to clear out the room, but we got it done.
The refrigerator was furnished thanks to Jo. I was just completing the last bed making when Mark announced, "Well it looks like we have done everything we can here. Time to go back to the farm. You coming with me Carrie?"
"Just a minute. I'm about done here," I answered slipping the last pillow into its case and leaning it up against the wall. "Ok...got it!"
"Thanks so much you guys!" Kate said going to Mark and giving him a hug.
"We'll see you on Friday?" he asked hugging her back.
I went to her and gave her a hug. "OK mom, please don't cry. Remember that I'm happy here so you be happy."
Two tired moms and two tired dads made their way down the stairs, through the lobby and out to the pickup. It had been a full but enjoyable day. We had been friends with Kate's roommate and her family for many years and it helped to make this transition easier to know that Kate was in good company.
As Mark backed out of the parking space and into the traffic, I looked up to the windows on the third floor. Inside one of those windows, two happy college gals were busy hanging posters, putting clothes away, arranging bookshelves, and chatting all the while. Inside one of those windows up there, a part of my heart was living for the year.
"Well I'm glad Bret will be back in a couple days," I said, my mind still up there in "Elm". "It will be helpful to know he will be in the same town as Kate for a semester."
"I'm glad those boys don't have to move in. It's good they could leave their things there all summer."
Mark did not turn off at the exit we usually do. Instead he buzzed right on past heading west.
"Where are we going?" I asked
"Remember that chili dog I promised you this morning?"
"Oh...right...Thanks Mark. You just know what this mom needs don't you? You always do," I said reaching over and putting my hand in his rough one. I felt so safe.
The next morning Mark was up and out in the kitchen early. I smelt the bacon frying but just laid there for a little longer. The house seemed so quiet. I knew the bedrooms were both empty downstairs. It was just Mark and me and the cat. Wonderful...we got to keep the cat! Well time to get up and get busy. I was a farmer's wife again.
There was disking, pig chores, checking cattle, and planting wheat. There were phone calls to Emma's mom, bridal showers, and dress shopping. There were weekends of fun and midnight laundry.
Then in the middle of November, we got called to college town again. The apartment across the hall from Bret and Adam had come open for rent. Kate decided to move out of the dorm into it. We were really happy she would be with the boys, but there was a lot of cleaning and painting to do. We also had to pay a penalty for leaving the dorm in the middle of the year. Mark wasn't really happy about that but it had to be done. We were just glad to have all three kids under the same roof. Ada, the lady who owned the house was a sweetheart.
So as December got closer there was lots to round up. The cattle had been brought in from the pastures and the calves weaned. Mark and I ground up a good amount of hay for the neighbor to feed the cattle. The pig feeders had to be filled to the top. We just hoped that the snow would hold off until we got back home. We were heading up north. Our son was becoming a husband.
"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 pickup," Kate said running around to the driver's side. "The front seat is kind of full."
"Okay. Here are a couple of cookies in case you get hungry," I said throwing the bag into the front seat.
"Why don't you go first, and we will follow." Mark interrupted. We were off. When we returned this evening it would just be Mark and me. Life had made a complete circle and now he and I were right back to where we used to be. Just him and me. I looked over at my husband. I loved that gentle face, that tiny little balding spot on top of his beautiful head. those strong but gentle arms that had held me so many times and told me "we will make it...just you see." My husband, my best friend.
I stuck my feet up on the dashboard and took a drink from the cup setting in the cup holder. "Well husband," I said "do you realize we are right back to where we started? Just the two of us will be coming home tonight. Just the two of us will be sitting at the table in the morning?"
"Do you know that I am going to treat you out to a chili dog at Sonic tonight Mrs. Beck?" he said turning to look at me, that smile on his lips. Bless his heart! He remembered that my best date was to Sonic and my favorite food was a chili dog!
After driving the couple hours through beautiful pasture land and hills, we turned off of the interstate and followed Kate back through the hills and trees to her destination. The traffic was horrible. It seemed like we were stopped at stop lights forever. We would creep up to take our turn to go and the light would turn red before we got through. There were cars, pickups, and trailers everywhere.
"I hope we can stay with Kate in this mess," I said
"I'm sure we will," he answered shifting to a lower gear.
The campus was beautiful. Large trees dotted the dark green lawns. Limestone buildings sat here and there over the beautiful span of grassland. Benches sat under the oak and walnut trees. And people! People were everywhere!
"Kate said her dorm was called Elm," I said sitting up in my seat looking around.
"Yea I think she said it was just south of University. We'll keep a look out for it but knowing Kate she will drive right to it," Mark said slowing down to get into the other lane.
Sure enough, Kate soon pulled into the parking lot. To the left, setting back among large oak and maple trees was a three story white stone building. Out front was the large sign "Elm". Mark signaled, looked in the rear view mirror and pulled into the lot.
"Well we made it," Mark said hopping out of the pickup and joining Kate. "Do you think we should go up and check things out first?"
"It would be a good idea I guess," Kate answered looking around. " Its room 360 so it will be on the third floor. We could see if Melinda and her mom and dad are here too."
So we joined all the other moms, dads and girls as we made our way up the wide sidewalk and into the front doors. The big clock on the lobby wall said 9:43. We had made good time. We made our way over to the stairs and through the door and up three flights of steps. The hall was busy with people carrying boxes, TV's, stereos, and apartment size refrigerators, There were back packs and girls carrying clothes draped over their arms.
We made our way to room 360. The door was ajar so we opened it and walked in. In the middle of the empty room was boxes piled one on top of the other, a small TV sat to the side of the pile. A level and hammer leaned up against the boxes. But there was no one to be seen.
"Well they must have beat us here," Mark said stepping inside and looking at the pile of boxes and picking up the level and putting it back down. "We just as well start hauling things in. We have a full day ahead of us for sure."
That started the task of "moving in"! The girls wanted loft beds, leaving room for their desk's underneath. Steve and Mark worked at that job while the girls and us ladies hauled things up the three flights of stairs. Jo and I went to Lowes a number of times for things the men needed to complete their task. At noon we brought McDonald sandwiches to the room and had a regular little picnic there among all the tools, 2x4's, boxes and whatever else.
By early evening that 12' x 20' bare room was changed into a cozy, cheery, girls living quarters. On opposite sides of the room stood big 4 x 4 posts with 2 x 6's running length ways to each one. A piece of plywood lay over the 2 x 6's and the mattress on top of that. Underneath was the girls' desks and chairs. A small refrigerator sat in one corner and the small TV was under the window. Two large colorful bean bags were tossed up in the other corner.
As the evening sun shown in through the window, Steve and Mark started to sort out the tools and gather up the levels, drills, and left over lumber. It took a couple trips to the pickup to clear out the room, but we got it done.
The refrigerator was furnished thanks to Jo. I was just completing the last bed making when Mark announced, "Well it looks like we have done everything we can here. Time to go back to the farm. You coming with me Carrie?"
"Just a minute. I'm about done here," I answered slipping the last pillow into its case and leaning it up against the wall. "Ok...got it!"
"Thanks so much you guys!" Kate said going to Mark and giving him a hug.
"We'll see you on Friday?" he asked hugging her back.
I went to her and gave her a hug. "OK mom, please don't cry. Remember that I'm happy here so you be happy."
Two tired moms and two tired dads made their way down the stairs, through the lobby and out to the pickup. It had been a full but enjoyable day. We had been friends with Kate's roommate and her family for many years and it helped to make this transition easier to know that Kate was in good company.
As Mark backed out of the parking space and into the traffic, I looked up to the windows on the third floor. Inside one of those windows, two happy college gals were busy hanging posters, putting clothes away, arranging bookshelves, and chatting all the while. Inside one of those windows up there, a part of my heart was living for the year.
"Well I'm glad Bret will be back in a couple days," I said, my mind still up there in "Elm". "It will be helpful to know he will be in the same town as Kate for a semester."
"I'm glad those boys don't have to move in. It's good they could leave their things there all summer."
Mark did not turn off at the exit we usually do. Instead he buzzed right on past heading west.
"Where are we going?" I asked
"Remember that chili dog I promised you this morning?"
"Oh...right...Thanks Mark. You just know what this mom needs don't you? You always do," I said reaching over and putting my hand in his rough one. I felt so safe.
The next morning Mark was up and out in the kitchen early. I smelt the bacon frying but just laid there for a little longer. The house seemed so quiet. I knew the bedrooms were both empty downstairs. It was just Mark and me and the cat. Wonderful...we got to keep the cat! Well time to get up and get busy. I was a farmer's wife again.
There was disking, pig chores, checking cattle, and planting wheat. There were phone calls to Emma's mom, bridal showers, and dress shopping. There were weekends of fun and midnight laundry.
Then in the middle of November, we got called to college town again. The apartment across the hall from Bret and Adam had come open for rent. Kate decided to move out of the dorm into it. We were really happy she would be with the boys, but there was a lot of cleaning and painting to do. We also had to pay a penalty for leaving the dorm in the middle of the year. Mark wasn't really happy about that but it had to be done. We were just glad to have all three kids under the same roof. Ada, the lady who owned the house was a sweetheart.
So as December got closer there was lots to round up. The cattle had been brought in from the pastures and the calves weaned. Mark and I ground up a good amount of hay for the neighbor to feed the cattle. The pig feeders had to be filled to the top. We just hoped that the snow would hold off until we got back home. We were heading up north. Our son was becoming a husband.
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