Last Friday

I've always lived here on the farm. Part of my years were spent up the lane at the smaller house and the rest here at the home place.
When Mom and Dad invited everyone here for Thanksgiving and other holidays, my siblings and their children would come. At least the ones who could make it. The group usually ended up at about 40 people.
A niece and nephew, who used to come and spend the day on the farm back in those days, are no longer with us.
Both have been killed in car wrecks. The passing of my niece was oh so sad in that she was home on Christmas break from her first year at college. She didn't get to experience what those of us who have grown old, have gotten to taste of. She would have made a great Citizen, Wife, and Mother and Grandmother and the list is endless.
The other, who is no longer with us is Marty's brother Steve. Most of you know how recent that was.
We met at Marty's parents in town on Thursday and came out to the farm on Friday. It seemed surreal. The activities were the same as the old days but the kids from way back when,, brought their own kids. Steve's kids were here along with their Mother.
Marty's family and his Sister and family were here. Our good friends from Colorado were here.
I guess there is no organized group of thoughts here. Just some points. My parents, aunts, uncles, a niece, a nephew, all exited this world, and yet we go on. We must.
Can we be Thankful! YES. Even though Steve couldn't be here on the farm, he sent a couple of replacements. The next generation. Excellent young adults who have been so positively influenced by Mom and Dad, that I have no doubt as to their successful outcome. Steve was so young to have made such a huge mark on life. His accomplishments were far reaching and so very worthy of note. His greatest achievement however, came to the farm Friday along with their Mother. I look at my children and all of my nieces and nephews, and their children, and the farmer in me can say without reservation, "it looks like a bumper crop on the way".
I gain a great deal of pleasure and sense of calm knowing things will continue 'on course' well into the future, with or without me.