Farm Girl.

the patch

I walked out to the berry patch. Right now the strawberries had started ripping. these were my favorite to care for. It was the first thing dad and I had planted together and sold in the farm stand.

I grabbed the ice cream buckets off the porch where they were drying, and ten buckets later I had all of today's crop picked.

I started the journey back and forth getting these berries down into the basement fridge.

I start filling half pound boxes to take to the to the farm stand, and filled up a few

flat crates.

Soon Boone came down with a couple bushels of asparagus, and started to help put them in one pound bundles.

"You are being awfully nice today." I gave him a small smile.

"Dont get use to it." Boone bumped my shoulder. "Hey, what's the big deal about college?"

I sighed, "I just dont want to be tied to one career the rest of my life, or get two to three degrees.... it just seems like it is a waste of my time."

"Then what THINGS do you want to do?"

I paused, "I don't know. I enjoy the farm work but it is hard to do enough on my own to make it."

"So you need something to supplement that?"

"I guess so" I rubbed my face with my hands. "Ugh, but what?"

"Like get a degree and make this a hobby."

I glared at him. "Boone! I'm not like you! I don't have this math passion that I can turn into a career! I just need to find something better. Ugh!"

"Rae I think you need to calm down and think about your future. We don't live in the 1920. You can't just live on a small farm anymore... just give some of our advice a chance okay?"

"Fine I will. As long as help me with these to the truck."

Boone smiled and gave me I side hug before heading up the stairs with a few trays.

I followed up with the rest of the strawberries, and grabbed my cash box out of the safe in the hall closet before heading out to the truck.

"Sure you want to sell today?" mom walked up behind me.

"Shouldn't you be in bed mama?"

"I will soon but that doesn't answer my question" she eyed me as I finished loading.

"Boone there are a couple more trays in the basement." I turned back to mom. "You know all the grandparents will be out and always stop for berries on weekends like this. Plus I have a couple days worth that need sold today."

"Sweetheart, admire your work ethic but I want to have an easier life than you father and I do."

"Mom, I dont really want an easier life than you. I want a full and fulfilling life. Some people want to travel the world but I want to have something grow by the work of my own two hands."

"I think my job is proof that hard work doesn't mean happiness. I just want you to find something better than i have." Mom grabbed my hand and gave it a little squeeze.

"Mom you should have something better than you have. You keep telling me to get something a chance, but you wont switch jobs."

"Hun, I'd do the same job at the farm store as I do at the box store. Your brother only works there part time to put himself through college. The grass isn't always greener, they just put alot of crap on it to make it grow wild."

I shrugged my shoulders. "I think you are justifying but I'll take your word for it.

I climbed into the truck and headed towards the stand.

Was I being silly? A lot of the kids in my class where going to college to learn what they wanted to do.

Was I just fighting common sense? It was hard to imagine paying for half of a degree and then change it and spending more time and money on something different. Sometimes the majority is wrong.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts as I pulled up to the farm stand. It was going to be fast and furious morning at people stopped to get fresh produce for their graduation dinners.