Gifford Lawrence
Farm work is hard work. One of the hardest, hottest and most physically demanding jobs is mowing away loose hay.
I don't remember the exact year Aunt Lois came to visit us on the farm. It must have been in the early 50's. It was summertime. We were haying. We kids were surprised when Aunt Lois asked if she could help. We knew better; haying was not women's work.
Dad put her up in the haymow...the worst job of all. He told her to watch out for the hay as it dropped from the hay hooks high up in the barn and that we would all be up to mow all the hay away after the wagon was unloaded.
We kids were worried about Aunt Lois, a city gal, up in the haymow all alone so as the last load of hay was dropped we anxiously scrambled up into the hot and dusty haymow quickly followed by Dad.
Leaning against one of the barn beams, pitchfork in hand, was Aunt Lois. She was soaking wet with sweat, covered with dust and physically spent but had a huge smile on her face. She had mowed away, alone, an entire wagon load of hay in the time it took us to get it off the wagon. We kids were amazed. Dad always seemed to have something to say- but not that day. He just climbed back down out of the haymow and backed the wagon out of the barn.
Although Dad didn't have much to say that day he would often tell the story of his sister in law, Lois, and that day in the haymow. It made him happy and proud to tell that story. He always liked stories about grit and strength and determination.
Thursday September 29, 2016 at 2:25 pm
