At first, we sat looking out over the now abandoned homestead where so many of our memories lay. Then, out-of-the-blue, Ian told me, “I’m considering joining the Army Air Corps, what do you think?” The blood drained from my head and a giddiness came over to where I felt myself ready to fall and grabbed his arm.
“Are you okay!”
“Yes,” I replied, as I released his arm and regained my composure. “You quite startled me!”
“Sorry, but what do you think?”
“Ian, these days I think about too much. I think about how we were all together once, here, and how everything has changed. It was such a short time. I think about if my mother hadn’t had my father buy that corner lot with all the trouble it caused. I think about the times up at the cabins with Uncle Sig and Auntie Rose. You know Raymond is off to the Navy…and now you are leaving…and once Maria graduates we’ll all be gone from here. I’m worried, Ian. What will be left? Do you know what I think? I think a part of us will always be right here, in the dirt, on the land. Someone may buy it, but it will always be a part of us, and no one can take that away. Sorry to go on so…when do you leave?”
