Blackberry Winter
Friday, October 14, 2005
(16:46pm) Friday consisted of Collette adding an announcement to the bulletin for a field trip to Pumpkins & Pines for the home schoolers. There was a grand corn maze, hay ride, and each child would select his own fat little pumpkin to bring home. Ah, the good old days of evening hay rides, hot chocolate, and crisp cold gray air at the Ingrid’s grandparents farm.
Then Rose informed her over the phone that while everyone else was at the campground, Carrie had taken her to Plato’s Closet where Rose purchased a sweatshirt labeled “Cricket Lead.” And then Carrie had bought ginger ale and ice cream for them and Joe for the evening. Party on!
After listening to “Blackberry Winter” on the radio, there were more reports of flooding in New Hampshire after eight straight days of rain. Of all places – New Hampshire! And Ivy called over the case of the missing stamps. A full roll of $0.37 stamps was missing from her drawer and Collette could not find them anywhere.
There was something on the radio later about an exhibit at the Saint Louis Art Museum entitled, “Royal Tombs of Ur.” And then, as she listened to a piece she had played years ago – Mozart’s Violin Concerto #5 in A (K.219) – she heard Judah talking to his beautiful Evangeline. She was so tiny and lovely, and had the face of a Medieval maiden. She was coming to visit and would stay with the Wheels out in the leisurely Augusta Shores. And Collette thought she heard Judah mention something about the wineries for dinner.
On the way home she heard a “honk, honk” from the little gray Saturn next to her. Piled inside were Mrs. Ernie and the two youngest girls, who all waved and smiled. Collette waved back and laughed. It was good to see people from the younger years, even in passing. It was good to know that so many people lived so close even now that she had graduated from that stage of life.
Meanwhile, Collette had been caught up in two literary worlds – that of Becky Freeman’s contagious humor and of Jan Karon’s quaint but lively North Carolinan town of Mitford. It was good, Collette thought, not to always dwell on the heavy theological texts. There was enough to plow through for centuries – and all written concerning the Good Word. But it helped to have mingled with it, she thought, some good classic fiction and humor.
(22:41) It had been a good evening spent at the Wheels’ over a campfire by the lake, where moon and star shone over the waters. Hot dogs grilled over the open flames and everyone burnt sticks in various smoke patterns. It was a relaxing and slightly comical three hours spent. A good way to spend an unhurried Friday night.
Collette was amazed at the goodness God had blessed them with – the kids at church and in the surrounding groups. It was good to see them grow up as friends together, sometimes as rivals, sometimes resolving their differences, and sometimes laughing them off in good humor. Collette hoped that she might live to see several such generations grow up together, sharing Christ, enjoying His blessings, and honoring Him in their lives. It was a peaceful blessing in which to take part.