July 7, 2007
Heavy rain, ending. Due to be very hot, sticky.
The big news for me is that Anthony is off to take a two-week summer course at RPI in Troy, an introduction to architecture course. I hope he enjoys it, and that it lights him up. I am profoundly psyched about it.
I am hoping he will get something from it, as he has such a powerful gift for an interest in things relating to materials and design. I’ve seen that first hand from the amazing work he’s done on the farm, especially in the Dog Room, the living room and in the barns.
The class is taking some field trips, including one to the Twin Towers site in Manhattan, and I envy him that trip. I suspect that will touch him deeply. Most of the students will be younger, just out of high school, but I suspect he will like being the wise old man. His name for me, when he’s in a good mood, is “hey, old man.” Anthony has worked very hard all of his life, and I hope this will be sort of a mind respite and head adventure. I have threatened his life if he doesn’t keep me posted on things here, and I hope to visit the class once before it’s over. Maybe take some pictures.
But you never know about school. I had huge troubles in all school, including college, and sometime it just doesn’t click for some people. I hope and pray he enjoys it and that he gets a much-deserved change of pace. On a farm, you learn that big and small things make up the course of every day, and it’s easy to miss the big things if you’re too caught up chasing the small ones around. Anthony’s class is a big thing, at least to me, and I hope to him too.
I will miss him, too. It’s nice having so many things in your life that you miss when you’re away.
Will try and write this morning, hard to do while on a book tour. Annie is in her element, tending to the five new baby chicks and to the baby goats Ruth and Murray. Nice to see her so happy. She loves goats, in fact, she loves all animals. Heading off to Toronto, but not bringing Izzy. Flying too unreliable.
A platoon of good people – Annie, Kiersten, Don – is keeping an eye on things when I am gone, watching the animals and taking care of the farm. But it is hard to leave. Got this shot of the goats peering out of their HBO Memorial Lambing Pen as the rain ended. Slightly out of focus. Hmmm. Paula says it is hot in NYC. Wish she were here now to see her lilacs shooting up.
