There seems to be no physical
handicap
or change of environment that can hold a real
writer down,
and there is no luck, no influence, no
money
that will keep a writer going when
she is written out.
Kathleen Norris
I met a man
at a farm auction today. He asked me when I was going to get back to writing.
This is for him.
It’s
pouring rain. Where the brave, determined auction goers of which the majority I
believe to be farmers, are wandering around dripping wet wearing rain gear, or
hiding under umbrellas.
This has
always been a difficult day for the families needing to have the auction, but
this kind of weather makes it more difficult for sure. Everything is dripping
and drenched. Rushing water pours down and out the downspouts of beautiful red
buildings, where farmers now huddle trying to keep somewhat dry, trying to
support this family. Buildings that used to be busy and full, farm buildings that
were more than likely never empty or lacking activity for very long, are now
full of people waiting to buy.
Sitting
snug as a bug in our farm truck, a sudden rumble in the sky warns me that this
storm is not going to go away quietly, it is here to stay. Anyone who had been
hoping that it was just a passing storm and would clear, are surely disappointed.
A field of
now trampled down grass which was to be second cut hay or pasture is now only a
parking lot. Where, watch your step cow patties, cars and pick-up trucks with
farm plates sit and the heavy rain pounds on the metal and bounces into the
air. Some, not as brave or as prepared as they thought, run back to those pick-ups
and head back home, defeated by the weather before the sale even starts.
A fair weather
day would indeed have made this an easier day for the sellers to accept. The sale
would have seemed to have been over quicker, much like ripping a Band-Aid off.
An auction that had to happen now dragging on making those waiting for the day
to be over seem much longer than it need be.
Farmers’
young and old stand huddled inside trying to keep dry, while the family and the
auction team carry the tables full of soaking wet, dripping things to be sold
into those beautiful red farm buildings where the water rushes down and out of
the down spouts.
I sit here
in the truck sipping my coffee. Writing this for the man I met who asked me when
I was going to get back to writing. A man who was dripping wet, while helping
the auction team doing the best they could to get this family through a no
doubt difficult day.
Later
well said, buttons. a difficult day made more so by inclement weather.
ReplyDeleteHello Buttons, it seems like the rain comes at the worse times. We had some heavy down pours yesterday but, we needed some rain. I hope you were able to stay dry. Have a happy day and new week ahead!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine an auction here. It would break my heart.
ReplyDeleteI have missed you.
Sort of a double edged sword- you want nice weather so the family will recoup some of the loss, but you feel for the agony of the family watching their beloved items being haggled over and sold...some I would just bet to be heirlooms.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are back!
I suspect the weather was crying for the family. And couldn't possibly cry enough for the regret in their hearts.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful, melancholy reminder post. Thank you. And thank you to the man who encouraged you to write about it.
It sure touches something deep within me to think of a farmer having to have an auction just to survive...they work so hard.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine having to sell things on such a grey day. I hope the weather didn't put people off too.
ReplyDeleteWe have a farm auction house down here that also has a big barn style arena that they sell farm equipment in and they sell rain or shine as it is big enough to house the equipment and all the buyers I cant imagine how disappointed they are when it rains and buyers have to leave it is tuff enough being a farmer let alone relying on the sale of auctions . Thanks for sharing I hope all went well in the end for them !
ReplyDeleteI really like the auction theme you touch once in awhile. I always think of the empty house that's left by itself. It's a very lonely feeling.
ReplyDeleteOh - the stories you tell. They go right to the heart.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how I'll feel when it's auction time for my family, but I know rain would make it stink, for sure!
ReplyDeleteCommunity! Be it a local farm auction or a global blog. We are all in this together.
ReplyDeleteYou never get good prices for the seller on rainy days either....maybe better for the buyer if it rains but what a miserable day. Good to see you back:)
ReplyDeleteThe rain can make things seem so much worse. My heart goes out to the sellers.
ReplyDeleteWhat a morning. I hope your next auction is more pleasant for all involved!
ReplyDeleteHow sad that it rained at just the wrong time! Very sad!
ReplyDeleteB,
ReplyDeleteOn a special day for the family at hand, the rain just makes having the auction a tad bit difficult.
Bless the family at hand, and bless you.
Sandy
I love to read what you write, Buttons. These words from you convey the emotions of this particular day in a most effective way! Such a sad day when auctioning off the family farm, etc. is the only way seen to survive. xo Nellie
ReplyDeleteA sad occasion, for sure. It is good to have you (and your writing) back.
ReplyDeleteIt is a stressful time for the family...sad to sell....hoping to sell well...trying to reconcile the two. Miserable.
ReplyDeletei always enjoy your writings. have a good week. stay cool. we are having nice fall temps this week. so thankful for that. ( :
ReplyDeleteAn unpleasant day for sure and stressful. Too bad the weather was miserable. I missed reading you, Buttons. Good to see you writing again. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tale of moving into the next stage of life Gracie, both for yourself and for that family. I"m so glad that you have your mojo back, and I hope that things get easier for you...it's very hard.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Jen
The darn rain interrupted my daughter's wedding last Saturday. She was about to cry, but I assured her that it was still perfect because she had married her love and all the people that she loved were there for her, even through the rain. So sorry that a difficult day for the farmers was made more difficult with the dreary weather.
ReplyDeleteGood to "see" you again, B! I hope your gray days are fewer and farther between.
ReplyDeleteHi Buttons, beautifully written for a sad and difficult day. With the rain, the day was crying~~~Glad you are writing and sharing your thoughts and talent.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you, cm
Beautiful Grace! I love it and I feel for those who have to go through the auction.
ReplyDeleteSad day, touchingly expressed. Wishing them well...
ReplyDeleteit's so nice to have such a loyal fan. difficult times bring difficult situations, you wrote a nice story about it!!!!
ReplyDeleteand you changed your picture!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteButtons, this is a well written post that is sad but true post. Farm auctions are happening more and more these days and the rain sure doesn't help.
ReplyDeleteMy husband just went last week to one and came home empty handed. The equipment was too old and unusable for him.
He's thinking seriously of getting out of dairy farming and go into beef farming. It's getting too hard for us old folks and only one son left to carry alone is not enough. Dairy farming is so difficult and regulated and expensive. Only the modern efficient farm will survive and we are getting tired.
And now with talks of doing away with Quota here in Canada, is unsettling. We are cutting down on our dairy operation little by little.
Wishing you well.
Hugs,
JB