My own trip back to the future

While I never saw it, I understand that “Back to the Future” was the highest-grossing film of 1985. It won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film, and the Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing, as well as receiving three additional Academy Award nominations, five BAFTA nominations, and four Golden Globe nominations. Ronald Reagan even quoted the film in his 1986 State of the Union Address.

It was that title that was on my mind as I was preparing this column out on the deck. I was considering several ideas when a couple of Canadian geese flew over and gracefully landed in the lake on the north side of the farm. That settled it. I decided to share this weekend with you.

Those geese are so beautiful to watch and listen to. My son David and I were encouraged Friday night as we walked around the island in the middle of the pond and saw several Canadian geese as well as one African goose sitting on their nests of eggs. Hopefully several will survive this year; last year we lost them all to predators.

It was such an incredible weekend here at the farm as we gathered Friday night for what we call “Erev Shabbat” (literally, the Eve of Sabbath); four generations including four sons, and five grandchildren around the table for a special meal that my wife plans and prepares for all week to be served on her finest china. Outside, I try to prepare by mowing and manicuring the lawn as best I can so it is fit for the celebration. It’s something we’ve practiced now for about three years — ever since we moved to the farm – and it has literally transformed our family and worship life.

Actually, this weekend started Thursday night as we had our three granddaughters stay overnight since they were off from school for Spring Break. Friday morning they went out to the high tunnel (enclosed garden) to help their nanny weed and pick vegetables that would be served for dinner that night. I was able to capture a picture of the three of them on their way back carrying a pail of vegetables. The dinner, a poppy seed chicken and squash casserole favorite, and fellowship over Chrystal’s newfound cake/cream cheese desert were extra special this week.

But it didn’t end there. Sunday, my daughter-in-law brought the girls back for their piano lessons from their nanny. And while the older girls were doing that, the rest of us walked through the lush green pastures to let Elle, my 20-month-old granddaughter, see and pet the cows that she loves. One the way back to the house she got to harvest her first egg from the chicken coop and proudly take it back to her nanny.

At the end of the weekend, my 23-year-old son Jess and I were out on the deck for some rest and conversation. After a few minutes, he turned to me and said, “Not bad, eh Pop!” I said, “Not bad at all, Jess.”

I’m more contented and less stressed now than at any time in my adult life. As he winds up his degree this summer and ponders his future career path, it was as though we turned back the hands of time about 80-90 years and caught a glimpse of what multigenerational family farm life was like (albeit with the modern conveniences of indoor plumbing, air conditioning and the other comforts we take so for granted) and agreed together that this trip back to the future was “not bad at all!”

Thanks for reading All About Seniors … see you next weekend.

P.S., you can see this column in pictures at www.facebook.com/VisitingAngelsMacon.

Bill Milby, CSA, is a Certified Senior Advisor and a Director of Visiting Angels® of Macon, a non-medical, living assistance service for seniors. If you have questions or comments about this column you can reach him at william.mercylink@gmail.com or search for us at www.facebook.com/VisitingAngelsMacon.

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