Much of my life has been spent "at the barn". I grew up on a farm and have had a horse since I was 7 years old. Being "at the barn" also meant I wasn't just caring for horses but also goats, the odd pig, chickens and sometimes a cow or 2. I consider myself a lifer when it comes to using the phrase "at the barn". This will always be part of my vocabulary. The people closest to me will know exactly where I am when I say it and they will know precisely the joy it provides.
"At the barn" means I know how to drive a tractor, use a pitch fork and run a wheelbarrow. I know how to use sundry hand tools, fix fences and tie knots. It means I can wrestle bales of hay, carry multiple water buckets and slug bags of feed over my shoulder. "At the barn" also means I can tend to an injury, handle an emergency and always be awed by the miracle of a new life. It means an entire world of responsibility outside of my day job and the house that I keep. It's animals that depend on me, my work ethic and dedication to their well being. It says I can work in the heat and bundle up against the cold with minimal complaint. "At the barn" is an investment of long hours, early hours, late hours for the well being of creatures that feed my soul. "At the barn" often means animals I love demand my attention before the sun comes up or long after it has gone down. Regardless of how tough life gets or how hard circumstances become, there is always a refuge "at the barn". A place where there's a warm breath on your ear, soft munching of hay or the smell of fresh shavings. It's a sense of peace, stability and connection to simplicity. A warm bed, food to eat and someone who loves you.
There are days that "at the barn" can also be a curse. "At the barn" is a priority that can never be overlooked. Living, breathing creatures await our arrival. The world at the barn just doesn't stop when you are sick, or lazy, or tired. There is no vacation from "at the barn". No work stoppage because the calendar says it's a holiday or Christmas or your birthday. Animals can't be placed in a closet for later; they depend on us. Anyone who lives and knows the phrase "at the barn" knows that it's an irrevocable part of our identity. It's in our blood. Part of our DNA. A piece of our identity. "At the barn" even tho it means we give up sleep, miss time at the lake or don't go on extravagant vacations...It's OK. I wouldn't have it any other way. I have learned the value of "at the barn". I have experienced the small moments of breathtaking simplicity. The magic of love from creatures in harmony with nature. The only thing to fear for people like me, is when I can no longer use the phrase I am "at the barn".
