Birthright Reflections

Magic Time at the Farm, Part Four:

Birthright Reflections

In my family there exists a cabin in the mountains. The Cabin, we call it. My mother visited it during her childhood, spending time with her grandparents, cousins, and other close relatives. When she was older, she brought her own kids there, sharing the Cabin with us, where my brother and I would spend time with our grandmother and our cousins.

And now, this past summer, we got to share the Cabin with our own son, making him the fifth generation of our people to visit. It was Cassius's first visit.

In Corrie's family there exists a farm in the plains. The Farm, we call it. Her father spent many a year there as a child and young adult, spending time with his grandparents, siblings and cousins. When he was older, he brought his own kids there, sharing the Farm with Corrie, where she and her siblings would spend time with her grandparents and cousins.

And now, this past fall, we got to share the Farm with our own son, making him another addition to the fifth generation of our people to visit. It was Cassius's first visit.

Dusk over the Texan Plains

In a random bit of symmetry:

1. My first trip to the Farm was in 2004; 
2. Corrie's first trip to the Cabin was in 2004;
3. Cass's first trip to the Farm was my third trip;
4. Cass's first trip to the Cabin was Corrie's third trip.

Cass playing with cousin Colton

 There's something very "white person problem" about a boy like our Boy having claims on two separate familial homesteads. The Cabin lives on the edge of the National Forest way up in the north and eastern corner of California. The wilderness right around the spot, and the mountain and volcano hikes can't be beat, and for the solitude and smells and sounds of it all, it's incredible.

But the Farm has open spaces, and land, and a recognized edge and border that across which nothing can bother. It has various dwellings, tractors to ride, weapons to shoot, and a proud history that is special to be a part of.

Both the Cabin and the Farm have things that each other doesn't have, and both are deeply special and inviting and more important to the respective families than any pricetag.

And Cass is the connective tissue with claims to both.

Uncle Robbie and Cass

Farm Visit Epilogue: Happy Ending 

Remember back when we arrived and a random mama-dog and her puppy greeted us with barks and near aggression? Eventually the mutts warmed up to us all, and the puppy took quite a shine to Cass:

When the day arrived for Corrie's brother Peter and his wife Sherri to leave, they decided to take both dogs home with them. They have an older dog and a backyard, and it sounded like the initial wrinkles ma have been worked out between the newest family members.

People's best guess was that one of the neighbors had a runt they didn't want, and once it ended up pregnant, they drove it to another spot on the collection of sections and tossed her out of the car. She'd been living under the farmhouse for a time. 

Now they have a new home. And isn't that special.