RANCH WRITING

To my right is a large clearing where the two longhorns are grazing. There are white patches of wildflowers signifying spring is here. The two donkeys make their way towards me from my left, emerging from a thickly wooded area. It is so calm and peaceful. All of the worries that have consumed my mind for the past few hours seem to drift away. I begin to forget that my feet are itchy and I am sticky. I feel as if this place has always been peaceful. Years ago, under water or baking in the sun, this place was filled with serene beauty. There is nothing particularly beautiful about where I sit. There is a larbe pile of donkey poop and dead leaves cover the ground. The land in front og my eyes is not breathtaking or awe-inspiring; it just is, the way God intended it. It is nature at its core. Large black beetles swarm the donkey poop and a spider web ripples in the gentle breeze. There is just something so primitive and raw about this land, something so untouchable. At this instant, I am brought back to reality by a cold nose nudging my shoulder. As I try to protect my writing from the hungry stomach of the donkey, I realize that this land symbolizes opportunity, hope, and most importantly, renewal and rejuvenation. It really is a land where anything seems possible.

This place fills me with wonder and peacefulness, which is exactly what my ideal place would do. But my ideal place would have a lot more green vegetation and wild flowers, and a lot less humidity. I can picture my ideal place right now. It is along the banks of the Benbrook Lake during spring time. The hill that makes part of the dam is covered in dense, luscious green grass. It is soft and ripples in the gentle breeze that blows. Intermixed in this field of green are bright hues of blue, red, yellow, orange, and white. It is wildflower season, and they are everywhere. I can lie down and not feel itchy. The grass is coll and feels good against my skin. I can feel myself fall into a calm wonder. The sun is setting over the water. As it disappears over the opposite bank, the stars and moon begin to appear. In my perfect place, an endless sea of grass and wildflowers surround me while the endless sky envelopes me. There I think I could truly forget about the cares of this world. There, I think I could truly lose myself to the space.