Approaching the Ranch

My mother has always been passionate about the ranch, which my grandparents bought during the Depression. I had never felt the same connection — until this trip. This time, it occurred to me that the ranch is the one constant place in my life; in fact, I can’t remember a time without it.

And it’s funny that you think you forget roads and how to get to a place, but your subconscious remembers the route. Here’s driving in:

We go straight.

Straight again.

The original sign disappeared years ago; Mother painted a new one and tacked it back up to the same tree.

This is it.

New red roof on the barn

A straighter shot.

Millie’s house (once Nini’s house). This is a story in and of itself.

The brand-spanking new ranch house:

As we’re walking down the road