A Gardening Road Trip

Today, I’m interrupting the novella "Once You Go Back" to share a personal reflection. The narrator of that story, Buckey, is not me, but the parallels between his journey and my own experiences are real. He leaves comforts and a carefully constructed life for an unexpected adventure where he changes, unlearning years of social coding.

Leaving has become second nature to me, even while I've always harbored a desire to stay rooted. A friend says I have suffer 'Cat on the Wrong Side of the Door Syndrome.’

Every time I go, I carry a secret, tiny, black backpack, a bundle of anxiety tucked away in my jaw like a licorice chicklet. Its weight changes, and sometimes, it sinks down to my heart.

For some, taking that initial step away from familiarity proves daunting. It’s easy to not close a captivating book or leave the comfort of a cozy couch. Even a curious cat like me gets that. Especially now with my aging Momma who lives in a farmhouse warmed by a wood stove. There's also my husband, finding joy in our farm life. And our donkey, dog, and cat—who I miss dearly.

Jenks, with interns Iris and Sam, digging bulbs this week on the farm. Photo by our friend Marilyn Oliveros of Paisa Photography, Aiken, SC

This week, life on the farm got even sweeter.  My young friend Sam came back from college. Sam is sort of my proxy son or, more accurately, the best little brother in the world. He comes back to the farm, knowing it’s gonna be work. But I didn’t want him to get bored, so I planned a work trip to Charleston.  The anticipation of a road trip with Sam and our friend Cole tempered the anxiety of leaving.