Victory Lap: Year Seven

Can I just start by saying, holy shit… year seven?

I mean, what the hell have I been doing for the last seven years? (Besides digging post holes, because… obviously.)

Here’s what’s crazy about that. 1.) I am way older than I realized. Like, I don’t think about it much, but when you make me sit down and do the math, I am much, much closer to 40 than not. And yet, still drinking beer and making slightly-irresponsible (and awesome) decisions regarding power tools, so… some shit never changes.

Also, 2.) There was a time–a little more than seven years ago–when I was convinced the “best” years of my life were already behind me.

True story.

Not that I consciously put much stock in my age, but I was post-30, I’d put a ton of time and energy into building a house that I never really ended up living in, and once I moved out I had no idea what I was going to do next.

Up to that point in my life I had been in relationships with really good dudes, but they were also relationships that did not bring out the best in me. (FYI, those things are not mutually exclusive. The fact that I’m not always my “best” in relationships is not a reflection of my partners in those relationships, nor is it a reflection of me. Fact: Two awesome people can be not-awesome together, and that’s not a story we tell very often.)

The point is… that girl seven years ago? She had no fucking idea. Just randomly drove over a hill one day…

the_road_home_sm

And found this place.

Untitled

And it turns out my very best years were not behind me, but in front of me.

I had no idea how strong I was. How much weight I could carry. How many problems I could solve. I had no idea the many ways this place could break my heart, and fill me with joy, and teach me about the kind of person I want to be.

Untitled

And yet, here we are.

Taking my seventh victory lap around the farm..

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Thinking about all the things that have happened since the first time I did this back in 2012.

Untitled

After seven years, I’ve learned enough to know the best years are never behind me, but that the years in front of me may look far, far different than I ever envisioned.

I’m so grateful for this place, and every year I take a little time to remember that. To reflect on what it has brought me. In the early years I was just grateful I found it, and some years I was grateful for all the things I accomplished on my own, or the things I managed to grow and harvest. But this year– seven years in– I’m particularly grateful for the relationships I have because of it.

I’m a loner by nature. I mean it legitimately rarely occurs to me that people might want to, like… come over and hang out? And yet…

I’ve made friends that are perfectly accepting of my slightly-antisocial behavior. They invite themselves over and insist on helping me plant trees

image

Or build stuff

Untitled

Or climb things

Untitled

I have the best neighbors a person could ever ask for, whom I consider family (including their four honorary farm-dogs that come over to visit often)…

Untitled

I have a blast with my mom, who now has a lake house just a half-mile down the road….

Untitled

And, of course, she has the very best neighbors too.

Are we blessed? Absolutely.

But I wouldn’t have thought that seven-plus years ago. When I had to make the very difficult decision to leave a house I’d put all of my energy into building for a couple of years, and a relationship that wasn’t bad but also… wasn’t really good. When I assumed my best friendships and relationships were already behind me.

I wouldn’t have thought that when my mom went from the sad little single-bedroom apartment that she lived in for a decade (and legitimately had a drug addict break into once while she was sleeping) to buying a condo that she didn’t love.

Those things didn’t feel blessed, they just felt fucking hard.

And I won’t deny there’s a lot of luck involved in ending up where I am, but, also, there’s a hell of a lot of doing the hard thing. Over and over again. Of consciously not taking a “safe” or traditional path when I didn’t feel those things were right for me. Of learning to be open to connections with people, and–gasp!– occasionally asking for help (even when the openness and vulnerability makes me very very uncomfortable.)

There’s a cost to all of it. A hell of a lot of tough decisions, and calculated risks, and hard fucking work, and soul-crushing winters–dear god, the winters–but seven years ago when I first saw this place, I didn’t ask for it to be easy. I didn’t believe that it was owed to me, just because I wanted it. What I said to myself (and the universe) was that  I would work as hard as was necessary to deserve this place. And I’m grateful every day for the chance.

So, that’s where I’m at right now. Coming off a year that made me stronger in ways I hadn’t asked for. Knowing the work will continue this year–that the farm will ask more from me, and challenge me in new and different ways– and that it will also bring so many gifts (and people) into my life. And being grateful for all of it.

13 Responses

  1. Yes. Yes. YES!!!!
    All of this.
    Except for the realization that time keeps passing, I’m stuck on that one too .
    It doesn’t seem possible that you have lived there 7 years, Congrats!! Congrats on knowing yourself (a continual learning curve), working so freaking hard, learning to play hard to level it out, and your sense of gratitude.
    Life is good lady and I’m loving the fact that I can follow along on your journey!!!
    Inspiring for sure (Also I love your mother….. she has a knack for making people feel special! Give her a squeeze from me)

  2. Yes… it’ll be seven years in May on my little piece of paradise along the Wapsi River in eastern Iowa. I’ve most enjoyed reading of your adventures and experiences on Blackfeather and you have certainly been an inspiration for all who follow you. Love what you do and do what you love, the best is yet to come

    🙂

    1. I’ve neen reading here for years, and I too live along the Wapsi! What are the chances?!

  3. Thanks – I “met” you through your blog way back when you were in your first house. So thanks for letting us take your journey with you through the years.

  4. Your writing style is so authentic and endearing. I’m so glad you bought that farm, but also I loved living vicariously through the house and the gazebos and the sink catastrophy and then the new place with the siding and it’s all been fun to read! You are so talented and I will celebrate your seven years with a glass of wine tonight when I get home from work and try to finish tiling my basement and using power tools. I think what I am really trying to say is that you are an inspiration!

Comments are closed.

I'm not interested in a mediocre life. I'm here to kick ass or die.

(formerly DIYdiva.net)