You know, money has never really been important to me. I've never cared whether I am wearing the latest fashion or whose name happens to be on my clothes. It just has never been that important. Oh, sure I've wished I've had more money to buy things I want, like a fancy camera or a better computer or something. But it seems to me, the more you want something and the longer it takes to get it, the better care you take of that thing.
This weekend, well it was a tough one. We didn't get to talk much about ole Three toes the bear, or the fact that my uncle used to throw knives at my mother out by the barn, well, at least until Granny caught him.
No. Saturday was to talk about the land.
It's taken me two days to be able to talk about it. Not many people have a calling to the land anymore. Used to you had to have it to survive. It fed, gave you a place to hang your head, but not so much anymore. The way of the small farmer has gone. Unless you have a big time operation these days, hell the gov't might pay you not to farm. (That happens, why do you think cotton is so high? Manipulation of markets don't simply happen on Wall street folks)
So there are six brothers and sisters. I guess I don't have to tell you that the majority of them want to sell the land. My mother doesn't, and by God she took a ration of shit for that fact, and why should that happen? Who says she can't do what she wants. I don't know, but families can be brutal when it comes right down to it, for money and greed.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if the land hadn't been in our family since 1762. Yeah, that long. It's been over 200 years that the land has been in our family. It has dwindled down, and dwindled down until there is only 36 acres left from 10,000. All in the space of a hundred years. If they all sell, my aunt will be the only remaining person living on the land that belonged to our family. 10,000 down to 1.
So yeah, I'm just a little bit heartbroken, and wishing I had the money to buy them all out. Here are some pictures...might be the last ones I take
This weekend, well it was a tough one. We didn't get to talk much about ole Three toes the bear, or the fact that my uncle used to throw knives at my mother out by the barn, well, at least until Granny caught him.
No. Saturday was to talk about the land.
It's taken me two days to be able to talk about it. Not many people have a calling to the land anymore. Used to you had to have it to survive. It fed, gave you a place to hang your head, but not so much anymore. The way of the small farmer has gone. Unless you have a big time operation these days, hell the gov't might pay you not to farm. (That happens, why do you think cotton is so high? Manipulation of markets don't simply happen on Wall street folks)
So there are six brothers and sisters. I guess I don't have to tell you that the majority of them want to sell the land. My mother doesn't, and by God she took a ration of shit for that fact, and why should that happen? Who says she can't do what she wants. I don't know, but families can be brutal when it comes right down to it, for money and greed.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if the land hadn't been in our family since 1762. Yeah, that long. It's been over 200 years that the land has been in our family. It has dwindled down, and dwindled down until there is only 36 acres left from 10,000. All in the space of a hundred years. If they all sell, my aunt will be the only remaining person living on the land that belonged to our family. 10,000 down to 1.
So yeah, I'm just a little bit heartbroken, and wishing I had the money to buy them all out. Here are some pictures...might be the last ones I take
4 Comments:
Hugs, Michelle, I hope your family can resolve it without the bitterness and hurt feelings. Sometimes natural "splits" of the land happen over the generations until there's not much left. My Dad's brother and sister split their family farm several years ago, each with 40 acres. They've all got kids, who have kids. You're right, though, that "land" just doesn't mean the same any more. I love that scene in Gone With the Wind where Scarlett's clutching the handful of Tara. *sigh*
It's hard especially when some of them really do need the money. But it's funny how the ones that don't need it are the ones yelling the loudest to sell.
Janie, I'm glad about John's people too. It's just so damn sad.
Thanks Joely and Bonita. I really appreciate it. I'll be back on track here soon.
I guess the thing that bothers me most, is that I think back to the people who came here from Scotland and England before the Revolutionary War and bled, died, and sweated out their hearts for that parcel of land. That's what gets me.
Thanks guys!
Inheritance can get ugly. Been there, done that.
So sorry Michelle about the land. I would be heartsick, too.
Thanks Beth...
and everyone.
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