A very fitting date, she explained, as it was exactly three years ago to the day that her now ex-husband communicated the decision that he no longer wanted to stay in their marriage or live at Swamp River Ridge. Then he left. Figuratively and literally.
Putting on her big girl panties after their parting, she set out to become Chicken Mama, Lady Homesteader. After all, Swamp River Ridge was her dream piece of property with a house she had designed completely by herself and watched being built from the ground up. It was where she sincerely believed she would spend the rest of her life.
For the next two years, she tried as hard as she could to keep Swamp River Ridge going by herself. It was an impossible task both financially and physically. Year three was spent going through the very painful bank foreclosure on the house and property and knowing she was losing the last piece of her dream life.
It's been an extremely rough last three years.
Yesterday, the last day to get everything off the property and out of the house was the coldest day we've had this winter so far. The temperature hovered around 15 degrees below zero for most of the day, dropping sharply as the day drew to a close.
The house has been winterized and without heat for the past couple of weeks. The thermometer inside read 22 degrees above zero. But even at that, it felt warm compared to the outside air! (Guess everything really is relative, isn't it?)
The county road to and from the last 4-1/2 miles to her land's driveway was ice-covered in spots making the twists and turns and hills a bit on the difficult (stomach-churning for yours truly) side, but the 4-1/2 miles that she's been responsible for keeping open in the winter had such a solid covering of ice that I know for certain I could have put on ice skates and traversed much of the distance that way. Possibly faster than we were able to go pulling the heavily loaded trailer behind the 4-wheel drive truck on our way out.
Papa Pea and I left her to pack up the very last items in our second Suburban and have some time by herself to say good-bye to Swamp River Ridge.
Arriving home, we were exhausted from the day and more than a little nervous until we knew she had successfully made the drive out with her faithful dog companion, Tucker, riding shotgun. I am so thankful the day ended the way it did given the low temperatures and extremely icy road conditions we had to deal with. There was nothing about the whole day that would have been improved by having to deal with vehicle problems!
We awoke this morning to 11 degrees above zero and heavily falling snow. Now at noon time we have about 6" on the ground with the snow continuing to fall, but not as thickly. Above is the Suburban our daughter drove last night and parked here, packed to the brim and with ladders strapped on top.
Chicken Mama may or may not blog about her emotions of the day yesterday. I can only speak for myself when I say it was an emotionally tumultuous day for me. I kinda surprised myself in that I didn't once give in to my emotions. (At least not outwardly that anyone else noticed.) What else could I do when our daughter continued to remain pleasant, amiable and kept her fantastically positive attitude through what must have been a heart-wrenching day for her?
The End.
Of the Last Day.
Of the Big Move.
Of the Big Move.
22 comments:
I'm glad that it's finally over. Time to start a new page, no, a new BOOK! All brand new and ready to fill with wonderful memories.
Ah. Well I was glad to see your post - knowing that your fingers didn't freeze off. CM is quite a girl/woman. As are her parents. While I know it must have been very hard to say good-bye, she can now do so and turn her sights towards a much better future. Because it will be. Because I say so. xoxoxo
Sorry, Papa Pea! That would make you quite a man! But you know what I mean :)!
Hugs to all of you, and many prayers for Chicken Mama on the new life she is about to start. Adventure awaits, and I have no doubt she will make it incredible :)
So glad that is done. The hardest part behind you & hopefully for CM as well.
New beginnings .....
My thoughts are with all of you as all these changes are being made. I wish Chicken Mama peace and joy in whatever comes her way next.
Change is hard, but I agree with Carolyn, time to get to starting a new page in a new book. Good Luck CM, you will survive this, you have great parents to help you along the way.
Aww, change is always hard. I also agree with Carolyn. Hopefully CM's new book will be better than the last and she will look back at this time as a stepping stone to her awesome life! Stay warm ☺
I'm glad to hear you are all done with that hard work. I hope life will improve for Chicken Mama and wonderful things will come her way now.
I can only imagine how hard it is to be a parent of a child who is going through such a tough time. Chicken Mama is so lucky to have such wonderfully supportive parents as you and Papa Pea.
I've watched CM over the past 3 years. Her ups and downs - she is one strong lady!! I will continue to pray for her and for you as her support system in the coming days.
My Heart aches for you all. But it is over now and CM will start anew life. Hopefully easier that it has been the last 3 years. Life does strange thing some times and we just have to take what it gives us . One foot in front of the other and all will be fine with time .
I am glad, for all your sakes, this is finally done. Hard to leave a place like that, after all the work and love that went in to building it. I do hope now, that she will be able to move forward. But...it is hard, wondering what will become of your dream.
Sometimes the healing starts at different times for different people. At least she had some closure, and someone to help her...
So sorry..... I hope that new beginnings bring happiness to your daughter. Here's to a fresh start!!
So hard to let go of a dream. I hope she has new dreams and plans to look forward to.
A great big thank you to all of you for your kind, sweet, encouraging comments. Have no fear. Chicken Mama just needs a couple/few weeks to figure out where the heck to put all her "stuff" (!), get a little rest and she'll be back up to snuff, planning and working toward what comes next. Stay tuned! :o)
I'm with Carolyn too! This situation has been a terrific example and inspiration of how your family pulled together in such a big way.
I can only imagine your own emotions, being her mom, that you are going through. It's so hard to watch our kids go through heartbreak of any kind. She has come through with more grace than most would I think, and that's a direct result of you and Papa Pea. Knowing when to let her deal with things herself and when to jump in and help is a dance we all only hope to have someday, looks like your family has got it down! I'm sure praying things will go her way in 2013!
I'm so glad it's done. The longer the slow parting went the harder it was on CM and you all. Fresh start in a new year!.. CM has great things ahead and once she has her feet dry she will thrive with new bigger & better dreams.
What wise parents you were to give her private goodbye time. Good thoughts and prayers wrappped in hugs for you all.
Lisa, Erin and Katie - Thank you, thank you, thank you! Yes, the whole last three years have been like a huge stumbling block preventing her from moving on with her life. But now that's gone and it's time for the really good things to start happening. And they will!
My heart goes out to your daughter and you watching her suffer. I commented on your post and said a lil bit more than I prob should have. She is strong and will get through this I beleive. You raised her well.
Oh, Lisa - You didn't say anything that hasn't been said (or at least thought!) a gazillion times before around here. Sounds like you have some personal experience in the School of Hard Knocks so you can relate to what she's been going through. And you're right . . . she IS strong. (Some might say stubborn and bullheaded like her mother, but we won't go into that right now.) ;o]
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