Cold Wind

[Cita]

That last winter we had one blizzard right after the other, overlapping sometimes, always layering new snow over the top of frozen mud.

The mud never left, and neither did the cold wind.

When spring came, it brought more change and less change than we had expected.

We were told we had to leave the ranch, and were given thirty days to do so, but the wind didn't leave, just blew and blew and seemed to both drive us indoors and drive us away.

I stood at the cattle guard in that same cold wind that had been blowing since Halloween and looked back over the prairie, my first love.

I looked back but I was also looking ahead, remembering how I had seen it in the beginning, honoring the lessons of weathering, wandering, and wondering, getting ready to put them to use.

[Harold Kempka]

CIta,
Change, like a dust devil in the wind, always carries the grit of the past even as it ushers in the possibilities of the unkown. Unfortunately, it also pisses off the cattle.
I loved reading this insightful piece.
Hal

[Jeanette Cheezum]

I felt I was there with you. Fighting off the cold, protecting the cattle and dreaming of wheter I should have left or not.

[Brad Rose]

This is really good Cita. Feels desolate and haunting. I take the liberty of suggesting that you consider removing the word "seemed, "so that it reads "...blew and blew, simultaneously driving us indoors, and driving us away.."

[JetFuel]

Ahhhh, the wind ...
Love it !!

[Anthony Venutolo]

like this Cita. Very Steinbeckian... Is that a word? In any case, nice somber picture you paint.