“You’re selling! Why?”
“You’re not interested in it.”
The young man turned away from his dad so he couldn’t see the hurt on his face and the tears in his eyes.
“Is this why you were so adamant to send me away to school? So you could give our heritage away and not feel guilty because I’d have a career.”
“Son, you always said you couldn’t wait to be gone from here.” He rested his weathered hand on the shaking shoulder. “Now there’ll be nothing to hold you and you won’t have to worry about taking over the ranch.”
The gut wrenching reply that came next was rocked the older man to the core.
“I need you to understand why I came home, dad. Why I turned down a high paying, heartless job. I came home because I wanted to be here with you. I wanted to be where I could raise my family, let the kids grow up the way I did, with respect, learning how to work and be proud of themselves and their accomplishments.”
The young man’s eyes were locked on his dad’s face. Their eyes never wavered.
“ The papers haven’t been signed and no money has traded hands. We can continue the traditions together. This is our home and has been for generations. Working together will keep it in our family, our heritage.”
“You don’t think it’s too late?”
“No dad, it’s not too late."
“You’re not interested in it.”
The young man turned away from his dad so he couldn’t see the hurt on his face and the tears in his eyes.
“Is this why you were so adamant to send me away to school? So you could give our heritage away and not feel guilty because I’d have a career.”
“Son, you always said you couldn’t wait to be gone from here.” He rested his weathered hand on the shaking shoulder. “Now there’ll be nothing to hold you and you won’t have to worry about taking over the ranch.”
The gut wrenching reply that came next was rocked the older man to the core.
“I need you to understand why I came home, dad. Why I turned down a high paying, heartless job. I came home because I wanted to be here with you. I wanted to be where I could raise my family, let the kids grow up the way I did, with respect, learning how to work and be proud of themselves and their accomplishments.”
The young man’s eyes were locked on his dad’s face. Their eyes never wavered.
“ The papers haven’t been signed and no money has traded hands. We can continue the traditions together. This is our home and has been for generations. Working together will keep it in our family, our heritage.”
“You don’t think it’s too late?”
“No dad, it’s not too late."
The younger generations that have wandered from their roots are starting to realize the benefits of the life they grew up with. More and more family farms and ranches are starting to disappear, but with sons and daughters returning to help, there is hope that traditions and western heritage that is the soul of the country will not only survive but will thrive.
Ann Edall-Robson
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life
"Capturing moments others may never get to experience."
Author, Photographer, Lover of Life
"Capturing moments others may never get to experience."
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