Armed with only a water bottle, I sat upon the riding lawnmower, going over the nearly two acres of field that we have. Each bump, and there are a ton of them, made me bounce a bit in the seat. Each dip, and again, lots of those, made the mower want to tip over. Even now, nearly an hour later, the sound of the lawnmower is still vibrating within my ear.
As I'm riding, I glance over to the backyard and see the kids playing instead of working on their yard chores. At first, I was going to gripe a bit at them, but they had such huge smiles upon their faces. Instead, I kind of chuckled to myself and kept going.
Next, I see Honey with the push mower. He is so delicately trying to go around my overgrown, weed infested garden areas. He and I both know the melon plants aren't going to sprout us any melons this year, and yet he also knows how disappointed I would be if they accidentally were mowed down giving them no chance at all. He blows me a kiss as I pass by for the hundredth time, on my comfortable yet bumpy seat, doing nothing more than turning a wheel and occasionally pushing the brake to slow down.
I start making my passes between and around the Mesquite trees out back, and wince as I come close to being attacked by their needle like thorns. Around in circles I go, making myself dizzy in the process.
I started to think about where I see us ten years from now. Bear would be off starting his own life already. Pie would be finishing up college, and it would be just Honey and I here at the house, mowing the field, and hoping the kids would come home for a visit.
That is a big and mighty dream for sure! Yes, most of you may be thinking that it's something that occurs with every family, but ten years ago, it didn't look like it would for mine.
If you had asked me ten years ago where I saw myself ten years in the future, I'd have told you that I doubt I'd even be alive that long and in fact; I didn't want to be alive ten years from them. Ten years ago, everything looked so bleak and impossible. Ten years ago, the things my children take for granted today were practically non-existant then. We had a lot of rice. Beans and rice, canned chicken and rice, rice with tomato sauce. Just about every meal was something and rice. Rice was cheap, and somewhat filling. Sometimes, as a treat, we'd even get to have Ramen! Many times, I'd go without eating just so that the kids could eat. My migraines were much worse back then.
We lived in an apartment, and couldn't even afford the $5 a month Section 8 wanted us to pay. Five bucks! We nearly were evicted several times over five bucks. Electric was shut off every single month like clockwork. It got to the point where the utility company didn't even wait to see if we'd be late with the bill. They'd shut that sucker off come 5 PM the night before it was even due.
No, ten years ago, I didn't think we'd make it to now. Ten years ago, I didn't want to even be alive right now. I can't tell you just how glad I am that life had other plans for me.
Now, I have a house and two acres. I have a loving partner, and two very happy children (even if they don't know how happy they are sometimes.) Food is plentiful, as are snacks and treats. And we are all healthy, which I wouldn't have been able to say back then.
Ten years is an awfully long time that truly does fly by so quickly. I am grateful for everything we have, and everything we have accomplished.
What kind of difference will ten years make for you?
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