July is slipping away and soon we will be able to get into the house at the farm and the real work will begin.  I am thrilled at the prospect of remodeling, redecorating, spending the weekends at the farm and waking to that beautiful vista sweeping away to north, south and west.

Every coin has two sides.  As excited as I am for August to arrive, I know that the tenants must be watching July slip away with sadness – they are leaving a world that they have loved for over 25 years.  I imagine they count down the days, stressing about the work of moving, of leaving, of going off to a new home and having to say goodbye to all that they love in the place.

We have begun a sort of a countdown at home, as well.  My youngest son is counting down the days with excitement to the start of Marine Corps boot camp.  And I… well… I am counting down the days till he leaves us with sadness.  Don’t get me wrong – I am immeasurably proud of him, and so happy that he set a goal for himself and has worked hard to achieve it, but there are only 339 more days till my baby leaves me.  That doesn’t seem like very much time.