One Man's Junk.....lead to Happy Trails

I carefully wrote up the day's schedule, telling my sub about each class, who was enrolled in it, what their needs were, what the professor would do for the day and what to do with assignments, tests, or other information. I had Concurrent Enrollment Meetings which would detail what the current buzz is--this time, the buzz was all about whether sophomores in high school should be able to take concurrent enrollment.
After many hours of listening to several presenters, my meeting was over and finally time to go home. Upon leaving the building, I discovered the sun was shinning, the fall air was warm, and the day was very pleasant! I was in Heber and being the farm girl I am, my thoughts turned to "All That Stuff in the Barn." Pressing the unlock button on my keys, I jumped into a toasty car...which made me think of the wonderfully warm feelings I remembered from our own barn .
A feeling of familiarity flooded over me as I pulled up in front of the barn. I hoped to find as many treasures in this barn as I always had in my own barn in my childhood days. I remember tending calves, washing milkers and tanks, holding swishing tails for my sisters as they washed the cows down for milking, along with many other wonderful memories. Once the cows were grained and chewing contentedly, their bags washed and clean--awaiting the milker to be placed on them, sometimes in their relaxed comfort, their milk would come down and squirt out onto the floor. From some unknown hiding place, a barn cat would come silently running, eagerly licking up the warm, sweet treat. As soon as the milker was placed on the cow, the hose would jump with a surge of milk and be catapulted into the line. Immediately, the pump pushed the white gold through the line and into the bowl, where it hit, swirled, and was quickly sucked into the tank! In my mind, I can still hear the rhythm of the milkers and replay the twice daily process from start to end. My barn was as full of warm memories as the car had been when I entered.
Jumping out of the car, I ran eagerly inside to see the treasures. There were ghouls and ghosts for Halloween decorating delight; wonderfully rich colored wreaths hanging from stair banisters and mantles; a room to delight those of us who love the magic of Christmas; messages on blocks and tiles that would stir the emotions of a grinch; but I was particularly drawn to a deep, rich brown woven basket, filled with autumn leaves, berries, acorns and harvest goodies.
My hands touched the basket to feel if it was as rich and warm as it looked. I caressed each curve and let the leaves fall through my fingers. Checking the price tag, I decided to take a picture of the treasure with my phone and rethink the purchase. As I drove home, thoughts occupied my mind of how I could cut corners here and there in order to make the purchase a reality.
Working with my brother and sisters at my Mom and Dad's house filled up Saturday. With my brother home, we drew for treasured belongings and cried as we separated pictures from our past into piles. The grandchildren had been told they could go through the donation piles to see if they could find any treasures for themselves. As Giselle came, I got up and went to the hall and bedroom with her where everything had been placed. She was hunting for some small momento that could be placed in a drawer, so each time she opened it, she could think of Grandma and Grandpa. A star made from beads and crystals was just the treasure she was looking for and as I bent over to pick it up for her, I saw IT....a rich, brown woven basket! Quite possibly I had laid this same basket in the pile just a month earlier. On a different day, I had thought the basket was a give-away item--definitely not something I needed. My hands touched the basket to feel if it was as rich and warm as it looked. I caressed each curve and let the memories float through my mind. There was no tag... I could see the price had already been paid by my parents and was there waiting for me.
As Earl and I have traveled down the road of life, we have created many memories rich in experience and lessons. The road ahead is there for the making of many, many more. As we continue, I must remember not to lay aside or forget any of the treasures in my rich, warm basket. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for your investment in my future....for paying the price of the basket and for filling it with the warmth and riches of an incredible life. As they continue their life together, I hope they will leave more guidance and memories for each of us to treasure. Happy Trails to you....until we meet again!