My grandparents had a farm, they bought it in the early 30’s, I believe the farm buildings were built beginning in the 1880’s, they sold the farm in 1992. In 2008, the house, no longer being lived in caught on fire and then this week the barn burned down. I was so sad on the day of the fire, thinking about all the hours I spent playing and helping in the barn. And now it is lost. Makes me think about all the changes that we face over our lifetimes, things that are lost, or change or have to be left behind. People moving to a new country, moving out of a relationship, changing jobs or grieving loss, feel the change so acutely. Like a beautiful red barn that is now a smouldering pile of ashes, there are changes big and small to be faced. So, what is it that we get to hold on to, our memories, our skills, our learning, the person that we are because of what we have experienced and who we have been. What cannot be lost are my memories, the mental pictures I have of my grandfather and his herd of cattle. He has passed away, now this tangible connection to him is gone. All I have left are what he taught me, who I am because I spent time with him and memories. Change is hard and scary, but a constant. I think that is why so many wise thinkers point to all the knowledge that we have inside as being the key to our life of discovery; memories and our very character cannot burn down.
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