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On A Personal Note...
Last month I talked about a period in my life that probably shaped my adult thought patterns to a goodly extent...but this month I have to share an expanded portion of that time and experiences...just because it was a special memory for me and I hope for my treasured sisters and brother. Now, I have to point out that this memory is from what was a six, almost seven, year old kid.
With that said...You recall that I told you on more than one occasion that for a short period my family lived on a lake. Yep, it was then known as Jackson Lake and, at the time, it was said to be the largest man made lake around. Today it would fall far short of that honor, but during its "heyday" it was something else, let me tell you. One of the features of a large lake is a rather large, electric power plant with its rather huge dam.
Now we lived at a rather envious place on the lake, we had two coves and faced what would be called, "the big water" on most lakes. You might recall I mentioned a big bridge, it was known as "Waters Bridge"...now I do not know why, but I do know it crossed the big water and allowed folks to get from Covington, GA to Monticello, GA without going way out of their way and spending a bunch of time.
Well, one warm summer day the four of us kids decided to make a sailboat out of a small dingy and then sail around the entire lake! Well, the other three decided and I followed along...you see I was the youngest and I do not think they thought I was on their par as of yet. But once the "rigging" was in place we put up the sail (an old sheet if I recall correctly). My older sis, Charlotte, and my bro, Roy, held onto the boat while my other sis, Dot, and I hopped into the boat.
About that time a big puff of wind came along and yanked the boat away. It was grand! But then Dot and I realized that there was no way to guide the boat because we had not put anything on to serve as a rudder. Well, here we went sailing out onto the main part of the lake...at the mercy of the wind. It was not too bad until someone yelled, "They are heading toward the dam!" Needless to say that took a wee bit off the pleasure of my first sailing adventure...then Dot, being worried about her little bro, threw an old innertube around me so that I would be safe if we fell out or if the boat sank...problem was, the innertube was as flat as a pancake!
As we sailed along beneath Waters Bridge, Dot and I looked up to see our brave brother, Roy, about to jump from the bridge to "Save" us...fortunately sounder minds took control of reason (and Roy) and he ran along keeping up with us. Also, fortunately the wind turned and we were forced ashore on the opposite side of the lake...far enough away from the dam and close enough for us to walk back for a couple of paddles to get the dingy (minus the sail) back home.
What a memory, it may not be totally accurate because of my age, but it was another building block for a lifetime. You know, I can look back and relate this to many times during my life then and more recently, when I felt like I was just "hanging out in the wind", breezing along, hoping I would end up where I was meant to be. Sometimes, I know I was guided by some force other than my own being because things just worked to make a vision come true...like when I decided I was going to leave home for college, then ended up at a school that I had never considered until situations dictated that I consider it. A school where I met Jude...then our time in the military...a return to school...then grad school and the jobs that followed...all apparently set up in a lifetime directed by someone larger than Jude and I.
This trend continues today...our decisions, even on small things, are for some reason influenced. An example of this came this past weekend...you see Jude and I are beginning to downsize our alpaca herd to some degree, yet when we went to the herdsire auction simply to relax before turning in for the night strange things occurred! :o) Before the auction began, I looked at all the breedings offered and decided that most, if not all, were too far away for reasonable bidding. We are talking California, Oregon, Iowa, etc...far away places for a small farm in Northeast Georgia. Well the bidding began, I am relaxing, and the first lot is won at a fairly low bid (especially for this herdsire). As I sat there, the auctioneer announced that if anyone wanted a breeding to that same herdsire and at the same low bid...well, the farm was open to having someone take it without going through the bidding process again. I heard that, and suddenly felt some "action" from my left (where Jude was sitting). I felt it again and asked Jude if she wanted the bid, she said yes and like a good husband I raised my hand...we got the bid. The farm where the herdsire lives is in Oregon...the farthest farm from our farm in the auction.
Crazy? Maybe, but I cannot think that there is something more tied to this than us just being crazy. I do not know what now, but I am more than sure we will be led to find out just what it is soon. You never know, it just might be an omen that we have a picture of Legato and his son PR at the first part of every newsletter. You see, their dad and granddad, Legacy (an unbelievable herdsire until his death), lived and was loved at Crescent Moon Ranch...yep, the Oregon ranch where the herdsire in question now lives!
What has this got to do with the price of beans, or why the stock market hit a new all time high today, or even why I love my Jude so much? It really does not matter at this time, what matters is that we have the hope and faith that all things work out for the best, and that positive approach to life is why our great country continues to lead this world, our world, forward! Thank you Lord!!!
Peace,
The Coffeeman
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