The True Harvest
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“The true harvest of my life is intangible – a little star dust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched”
Henry David Thoreau
This weekend, Husband and I took the girls to the farm. To the Fall Harvest Festival at Green Chimneys, a place dear to me about which I have written before. The girls had an absolute ball. They took a ride on a pony. The bounced in a castle. They ate ice cream. They had their little hands painted. They talked to animals. And romped in leaves.
I glimpsed a few things on Saturday. Profound things.
That each of my girls is her own person. Each does her own thing.
Toddler is a paradoxical mix of strength and sensitivity. She is curious and creative. Eager to wander and explore and discover. She is protective and proud of her little sister.
Baby is a little wild one. Absolutely fearless. Eager to be a big girl like her sister. Her hero.
But I also saw something else. Something I have known for a while now. But the evidence was there. Everywhere. Unmissable. Strewn about the crisp leaves. Under the bright October sun.
That something else?
That my girls are the very best of friends. Given the choice, they are side-by-side, holding hands, marching on.
I agree with Thoreau. The true harvest of my life is intangible. But every now and then I see it and feel it. And strongly, too. Every now and then life’s grays slide from the scene, and the color slaps me. Saturday was one of those times. I hung back, hand on my belly, feeling flutters from within, watching. Silently celebrating. Realizing that the true harvest of my life, my good and complicated life, is that I am part of things exquisitely bigger than myself.
A day. A season. A world. A life.
But most importantly: a family.
__________________________
- Do you agree that life’s true harvest is intangible?
- Have there been moments when you have been slapped with awareness of what matters?
- Were you close with your siblings growing up? Do you think independence and deep dependence can co-exist within one creature? (I do.)
- Are your children best friends?
- Does it humble you to realize that you are part of things that are much bigger than you are?
- Is fall your favorite season too?
Everyone struggles and...
I grew up with a sister who is two years younger than I and we were not really all that close growing up. We have gotten closer as we aged and came into our own lives.
Thoreau is definitely right about life’s harvest being intangible.
We moved the baby into big sister’s room last week, and it has been wonderful to see their (already good) relationship just deepen and strengthen. They giggle together now in the morning when they wake up; they spend as much of their time in the new playroom (what was the baby’s room) coloring or reading together; they chatter constantly to each other. It’s beautiful. As you say, they are very different people, but they complement each other so well.
And yes, the older I get, the more fall becomes my favorite season!
Your girls are precious! How wonderful that they choose to be side by side. As you witness these moments you realize the journey that they have yet to go through in life. It is a humbling realization that we are all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Take the time and enjoy all these moments!
So cute! My kids are best friends. My 6 yo son just this weekend wrote and performed a song for my 9 yo daughter entitled “I like and love my sister.” I adore seeing them together, how they look out for each other. It is something I always craved with my brother but could never be because he is severely autistic. I used to dream what it would be like if he were “normal,” would we fight, be best of friends, both? Seeing my kids so devoted to each other makes me at once happy and wistful for what might have been for me.
I was the only boy in my family so I ended fighting with my sisters more times than I like to think about.nd I spent more time with my middle sister than the others. She was two years younger so we ended up in school together.
I sometimes wonder if she realizes how much of my life she saw. The may sound egocentric but that is because it is. Growing up that is how I saw a lot of things. My parents worked hard to be fair to all of us, but somethings were different just cuz of gender.
There are lots of stories that I could tell. We got to be pretty tight, my sisters and I.
And now I see that my children are quite close too- makes me very happy. As for seasons, well I am an LA kid born and bred for sunshine. Summer will always be my favorite time of year.
Lovely, lovely photos!!!
oh lady… now this is some beautiful writing.
Beautiful. You are killing me lately, here I am nodding and crying at my desk, it’s unprofessional Aidan. If we can all appreciate those moments we’d be better for it. When I see my boys, best friends too, love and appreciate each other that’s all that matters. And then soon enough something shakes that sense of peace and that’s to be expected too.
So sweet. The best of life is definitely intangible. I loved this post. As an aside, I love Toddler’s hair – why can’t mine air-dry like that
?
Love this. My sister is my best friend too…and like Toddler I am older and protective, even at 26.
Also, ready for some bump pictures…you keep talking about this belly of yours and we see pictures of everyone else but not you!
You have a lovely family. It sounds like the perfect way to spend an autumn Saturday.
I finished your book and LOVED it. Count me among your legion of new fans. You really are a wonderful writer, Aidan. I’m so glad you quit BigLaw and decided to write full time. Courageous, yes, but well worth it. I quit my career to write, as well. I can only hope I am half as successful as you are.
My wife is reading LAY now and loving it. Thank you.
Gorgeous post, Aidan!
So sweet. I just love the pic of them holding hands.
Such a beautiful post. And so true. I keep meaning to send you an e-mail–but much of what you wrote above is verbatim what I wanted to say…