On Tuesday, we lost our Aunt Cotton. Today, we
celebrated her life. She always said, “Everything happens as it
should.”
For many years during my youth, I had the privilege to visit Aunt Cotton and Uncle Ted’s farm in the country for a week each summer. They gave me enough free rein to grow and explore. I learned to hunt, fish, avoid snakes, find my way home and more than I could ever state.
Each year, they also invited campers from Camp Soroptimist to visit their farm for a day. They borrowed some animals they didn’t own to complete the experience for campers.
Uncle Ted took the back-row seat out of his large, heavy-duty van (a small bus), and off we went to retrieve a goat. The plan was to have Uncle Ted soothe the goat in the back of the van while Aunt Cotton drove the van back to their farm.
For many years during my youth, I had the privilege to visit Aunt Cotton and Uncle Ted’s farm in the country for a week each summer. They gave me enough free rein to grow and explore. I learned to hunt, fish, avoid snakes, find my way home and more than I could ever state.
Each year, they also invited campers from Camp Soroptimist to visit their farm for a day. They borrowed some animals they didn’t own to complete the experience for campers.
Uncle Ted took the back-row seat out of his large, heavy-duty van (a small bus), and off we went to retrieve a goat. The plan was to have Uncle Ted soothe the goat in the back of the van while Aunt Cotton drove the van back to their farm.
From
the beginning, the goat was uncooperative. It did not want to leave its home.
It did not like the van. It did not like Uncle
Ted. However, this journey was for the campers.
They tied a rope on the goat’s horns and pulled it up a ramp into the back of the van. Uncle Ted sat calmly with the goat as the doors shut. From my seat, I could only see uncle Ted’s head over the last bench seat. Aunt Cotton was at the wheel as we forged ahead.
As the van moved, I saw Uncle Ted’s expression change from soothing, to determination, to caution, to commitment, to acceptance, to a blur as the goat rammed him into the wall of the van.
They tied a rope on the goat’s horns and pulled it up a ramp into the back of the van. Uncle Ted sat calmly with the goat as the doors shut. From my seat, I could only see uncle Ted’s head over the last bench seat. Aunt Cotton was at the wheel as we forged ahead.
As the van moved, I saw Uncle Ted’s expression change from soothing, to determination, to caution, to commitment, to acceptance, to a blur as the goat rammed him into the wall of the van.
Aunt
Cotton remained calm at the wheel.
Over the seat, I saw Uncle Ted’s head suddenly whip around to the opposite direction. He had the goat situation under control. Then his head zoomed across the van, and his back slammed into the opposite wall of the van.
Aunt Cotton remained calm at the wheel.
Uncle Ted fought with and cursed at the goat for what was probably minutes, but seemed to be hours. Back and forth and back and forth and back and forth the goat slammed him into the sides of the van.
Aunt Cotton remained calm at the wheel.
Over the seat, I saw Uncle Ted’s head suddenly whip around to the opposite direction. He had the goat situation under control. Then his head zoomed across the van, and his back slammed into the opposite wall of the van.
Aunt Cotton remained calm at the wheel.
Uncle Ted fought with and cursed at the goat for what was probably minutes, but seemed to be hours. Back and forth and back and forth and back and forth the goat slammed him into the sides of the van.
Aunt Cotton remained calm at the wheel.
The
sometimes-fragile campers didn’t need to meet a fiery goat. Luckily, the goat was tired and calm by the time the van stopped at the
farm.
Farm Day was perfect as always. Campers got the experience of a lifetime, and I got some lifelong lessons that day:
1) Volunteer and help others when you can.
2)
Have a plan.
3) Adapt when your plan doesn’t work.
4) Take the goat by the horns.
3) Adapt when your plan doesn’t work.
4) Take the goat by the horns.
5)
Hold on and never let go.
6) Have someone calm and steady at the wheel during a crisis.
7) Make fond memories for all.
8) Everything happens as it should.
6) Have someone calm and steady at the wheel during a crisis.
7) Make fond memories for all.
8) Everything happens as it should.
Today, we said goodbye to someone very special. Thanks for being the calm driver of our extended family and memories. We love you Aunt Cotton.
