The Long and winding Road

Publisher: dwinger      Volume No.  8      Issue No 3         Date Feb. 17, 07

I have about a 35 mile one way commute to the college everyday. About half is on a state highway and the other half is a farm to market road which winds through the “breaks” between the “No Man’s Land” of
Oklahoma and the top of the Panhandle of Texas.

In the morning I leave before light, I pass by quiet farms and ranches with just a light or two on so I know that they are there. Some mornings, I can see the sun start to rise at my back as I drive to the west. Yesterday, I left later and the sun had been up for about an hour. As I passed by, I saw cattle and horses beginning to stir about and graze on the wheat and grass pastures. I even passed by a cow and a new born calf. The baby was standing (kind of wobbly) and you could still see his hair wet from the birth. His mother was very close and watching him carefully.

The ground has been covered in show for quite some time, but most of it melted yesterday. As I drove home, I thought of how brown, desolate, and barren everything looked. But, we have had much moisture this winter, and in about a month from now things will start to turn green. Green is a beautiful color for farmers and ranchers.

My Dad used to drive this winding road when he was a senior in high school. Grandmother Winger had moved to Gruver, but Dad stayed and finished high school in Goodwell. It occurred to me as I drive that many have passed before me on this road, some to market, some to college, some going home. The cows, horses, barrenness, and green have been there for all to see.

Where will it take me?