| Possible Showers Monday and Tuesday?? Yikes! |
Anxiety!
I’d like to be philosophical, like I am with our son Jesse in talking about the business of farming, its uncertainties, how there is a lot we have no control over. It’s a partnership with Nature, I say. I know this from way back, from my farming father. He didn’t seem to worry when the rain was late in coming, or when spring rains flooded out corn seedlings in the lower spots— at least he didn’t talk about it. Behold the fowls of the air, the preacher would read as we sat on hard oak pews, my father exhausted and occasionally letting out a loud snore. Your heavenly father feedeth them… and Consider the lilies of the field… (Matthew 6, 26-27).
I know farming has formed me, made it easier to be a good psychotherapist, to learn to work with larger forces. Yet when ten tons of Chardonnay grapes still hang on the vine, and the weather report says possible showers, well, it is humbling!
Donald calls the winemaker. The brix reading is close to 25. The winemaker is also worried about possible rain and agrees: it’s time! Ramon works to assemble the crew for tomorrow or Saturday. We breath a little easier, but until the crop is in, we will not rest.