The yard of what was a school. Here my grandfather told me to listen to my parents and study well while separating debris and dust from beans in the wind. These conversations didn’t happen, so that one felt different on the song of summer tree leaves in the wind.
Late night arrivals with diary from the sheepfold.
Taking care of animals and land, going places with the horse cart. Eating unwashed salad in the garden.
Asking who else from the family came with me when I was visiting. Stories about the army and working for the national railways. A weakness for dogs.
The school’s yard, local roads and the time in between these places
— this was the time frame of the life of my grandfather. Changes, interactions with the environment and people, saying I love you-s, all can happen only here. Only here and then it’s over and permanent.
You postpone doing things; you get busy with the mundane chores of life and forget about the time frame of your life.
Remembering about it can make you step into the gratitude of being alive here and now, realize you have the availability of interacting with people and the environment around you today. It can make you laugh louder, smile brighter. You can only say what you have to say, you can only take action in this interval of time. Don’t get tricked by its unclear end date.
You are alive now and can undergo changes and interactions in your environment only during this time frame. Then not anymore.
