The Rural Voice, 1996-01, Page 19who I would become took prece-
dence over the rest of the world. I
didn't realize the significance of my
life at "our place" and the gifts and
guidance it has provided for me until
I moved away to make a life for my-
self at university. Exposure to many
people and the lives from which they
have come, has given me an entirely
new perspective of my upbringing.
So often I have tried to explain to
friends the beauty of the place in
which I grew up. I tell them about
the splendor of the land, the music of
birds, and the sea of stars that glow
across our home at night. I tell them
of the clean air, the abundance of
wildlife, the crystal water. I tell them
of "our place" and show them
pictures of our beautiful home,
nestled in its 10 acre bed. How I long
for them to understand, to feel the
peace and beauty that I feel when 1
think of my home. I realize though,
that that can never happen because it
is not about virgin snow, blowing
grass, and Iambs in the springtime. It
is about family. I didn't know it then,
but the wonder of "our place" was the
wonder of the love shared by four
people. I cannot explain the magic
Dad, Mom and Tania brought to our
home, but without them, it is dead.
My parents love each other. I
didn't know, until only a few years
ago, that there could be another way.
My parents are 49 and 47 and have
been married almost 26 years. They
cuddle on the couch when they watch
TV; they hold hands at the mall; they
sit next to each other in an otherwise
empty truck; they make spaghetti
together; they have conversations
over the dishes; they roast wieners in
the back yard; and they still kiss
goodbye in the morning. Every once
in a while I see a sparkle in my
Mom's eyes when Dad smiles at her.
They still say "1 love you".
Their remarkable love has mani-
fested itself in two sisters who would
give the world to each other. Tania
and 1 are both caring, loving, and
committed young adults and I pride
myself very much on our ability to
love in a world fraught with pain,
fear, suspicion and mistrust. Mom
and Dad have provided a life yet to
be matched by anyone I have met.
We have problems, yes, and there
were days of pain, and fear, frustra-
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tion and agony, distance and heart-
break. But our bond is impenetrable.
They have the courage to let me
make my own mistakes and the
strength to be there when I fall. They
understand my need to embrace the
world and to run from it. They grant
me the independence to feel in
control of my own destination and the
freedom to fear and to question it. I
am empowered by the faith they hold
in my decisions.
I speak often of my family and of
my adoration for them. I almost feel
guilty sometimes when I hear of
people struggling to talk to fathers
who don't know how to speak and
mothers who cannot listen - stories of
frightened children cowering in ad
ults who have never learned to love.
I am 21 years old. I hug my
family in public. I kiss my parents
and my sister goodnight. I say "I
love you". And I always will.0
The author wrote this for her
mother's 49th birthday.
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JANUARY 1996 15