I’ve
always wondered about having some fruit trees in my yard.
Nothing
too significant. A couple of apple trees. Maybe some for peaches.
Expand on the thought and add some plants and vines and more for
some blueberries and grapes and such. You get the idea. Part of
my grand plans for the ultimate surroundings.
It
started when I was much younger. Too young to understand why growing
lemons and oranges in my yard wasn’t too likely to happen in the
seasonal climates of a yard in New England. Observant enough to
see neighbors with some fruit trees in their yards though, and
to go apple picking at local orchards on occasion.
Over
the years, the house and yard of my dreams has gone through several
changes. I’ve wanted trees, swimming pools, gardens and tennis
courts. I’ve debated the beauty of acres of snow and the joys
of beachfront access. But a funny thought occurred to me the other
day…
The
greatest need for me has quietly always been the lawn.
When
I was a kid, it was far from uncommon to be barefoot. In fact,
I wouldn’t be surprised if the weeks of summer that existed between
school years found me without shoes on my feet as I often as I
was wearing them. And one of the things I recall most from those
days was being able to walk around in the grass.
Often
it was a safe zone. Concrete and other rough surfaces hurt. The
asphalt could be too hot on an August afternoon. (Ouchawkwardstepouchawkwardstepouchawkwardstepouch)
But the yard in general was smooth and soft and perfect for bare
feet.
The
last house Terry and I rented, and then the first house we owned,
weren’t so kind. It was next to impossible to get the grass to
grow evenly. Puffs of dirt clouds often surrounded the lawn mower.
Walking without shoes was never a pleasant experience.
Our
current home is different. Often on summer days I’ll be outside
without shoes on my feet. I’ve walked our property from side to
side, front to back, corner to corner without shoes. It isn’t
quite as common an occurrence as it was in the days of my youth,
but extended barefoot strolls do happen.
We
have a nice piece of land. Big enough that I tend to the lawn
with a ride on mower. And often as I’m driving around, I’ll think
about different things. Where to put a shed and how big a garden
to set up have been two of the more common considerations.
I
don’t know how long we’ll live at this address. I’d like to think
there are many years ahead of us before we move again. I’m not
silly enough to believe that the realities of families and more
might not wave a few demands or preferences in front of us sooner
than I expect though. Not too soon. But not decades away. Soon
enough that planting my own small orchard of apple trees likely
wouldn’t be worth the effort for me or my family. Soon enough
that selecting the right mix and number of blueberry bushes isn’t
at the front of my plans.
Still,
I’m not so certain those big-ticket items of an orange grove surrounding
my tennis court and swimming pool are really as important as they
were in the future wishes of a wide-eyed child.
In
a few months, when the days grow longer and warmer, I will enjoy
wandering around the yard again. Barefoot. Perhaps to grab the
mail. Perhaps to grab a few vegetables. Often times, it’s the
unexpected comforts that offer up the kindest surprises.