Summary:\u00a0 Choosing to act on one’s dream was the easy part.\u00a0 Handling the aftermath with his family was easier than he expected.\u00a0 What more is there other than an epoch of a dream?
\nRating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (890 words)<\/p>\n
Dreams Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n Chasing Dreams<\/a> Epoch of a Dream<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Epoch<\/strong><\/em>:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If June was the beginning of a hopeful summer, and July the juicy middle, August was suddenly feeling like the bitter end. \u00a0He\u2019d felt the stirring of hope during his conversation with his youngest brother.\u00a0 After pulling Joe into an uncharacteristic hug, the two settled the ashes in the fireplace to ensure they were dying down before heading for the stairs.\u00a0 Each bid the other goodnight from their bedroom doorways.<\/p>\n Adam had finally announced his pending departure.\u00a0 Other than the love of family, there was nothing else to keep him on the Ponderosa; even love had its limits.<\/p>\n #####<\/p>\n Adam was\u00a0surprised that as hard as he pushed Joe during the past few months, his mercurial brother had not thrown a punch in retaliation nor turned his back and stormed away.\u00a0 With this, Adam knew he could leave in good conscience.<\/p>\n But now that the announcement was made, it seemed so final.\u00a0 Yes, Joe had understood and wished him well, hoping Adam\u2019s dreams would one day return him to the Ponderosa. But if there was ever an inkling, the eldest somehow knew that when he bid the family goodbye, he\u2019d be breaking their hearts.<\/p>\n #####<\/p>\n From his years in Boston, he knew how long it took correspondence to travel from one side of the country to another.\u00a0 But now, he was thinking of traveling the world.\u00a0 Sure, he could write to his family, but by the time they’d receive his letter and could mail one of their own\u2026 he\u2019d probably be on to the next grand adventure.\u00a0 He also knew from conversations held with his grandfather, where he stayed during his years at college, that many ships and all they were carrying — men and mail — were lost to the seas. \u00a0Where he would ultimately land was as much of a mystery to him as it was to his family.<\/p>\n It took him three days to pack all he wanted to take, or would need, into the steamer trunks and his valise.\u00a0 Both of his brothers and a few of the long-time ranch hands had stopped by to offer a token for Adam to take on his journeys as a remembrance of them.\u00a0 Hop Sing had stopped by many times offering suggestions on the proper care of his clothing to ensure the articles traveled well and lasted.<\/p>\n Though his brothers stated they understood, he could still see their puzzlement over his desire to leave.\u00a0 The Ponderosa was all Hoss and Joe knew, so he couldn’t fault them for their love of the land.\u00a0 Every visit ultimately became hours of reminiscing of the past, he knew they wanted to remember the good times.\u00a0 Adam also understood how hard it was for them to say goodbye.\u00a0 He acknowledged that, this time, it wasn’t easy for himself, either.<\/p>\n Thinking of years back, when he’d prepared to leave for college and to meet his maternal grandfather, he remembered the growing excitement as he packed.\u00a0 All the advice Ben had given him about living in Boston.\u00a0 This time, there weren’t many words of wisdom imparted.\u00a0 Was that why this seemed so final?\u00a0 After all, what guidance could a father give to a son who wasn’t sure where he was going?<\/p>\n Worry creased his brow now that the time was at hand.\u00a0 He knew this was what he needed to do, but could he really do it?\u00a0 Could he really say goodbye to all that he had known?\u00a0 What would his family say if he asked for a few more days?<\/p>\n Through the opened window, he heard the grief in his father’s voice as he quietly called to the old hands who had wanted a few last minutes to say goodbye before heading out for the day.\u00a0 From the barn he heard his brothers bantering, but it wasn’t the easy barrage between the two; Adam heard the tension he was putting there.<\/p>\n He turned to look into the room before closing the door one last time.\u00a0 With the two trunks already loaded onto the wagon, the room that had been his since the second floor had been built looked sparse; not much to represent a lifetime of living.<\/p>\n Maybe that was what was drawing him away\u2026 the Ponderosa was his father\u2019s dream.\u00a0 He\u2019d contributed significantly to its growth, but if truth be told, of late, his years at college felt a waste.\u00a0 There was nothing on the Ponderosa that required such knowledge; the intricate logistics of structural design combined with the aesthetics of appearance during the construction of a building. \u00a0 After all, the Ponderosa was nature at her grandest. \u00a0And then there were the stories of far-away lands he’d read, and discussed with his peers, during his English Literature classes.<\/p>\n Knowing he needed to bring his emotions under control, Adam finally accepted that his departure was no different than closing one book, only to begin reading another.\u00a0 His life could be compared to the opening paragraph of Charles Dickens\u2019\u00a0A Tale of Two Cities<\/u>. \u201cIt was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair\u2026*\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Inspired by an August 2026 Pinecone Challenge:<\/p>\n
\nEpoch of a Dream<\/a><\/p>\n\n