I
had a farm in Africa… Those
simple words written by the Baroness and ultimately spoken by Meryl Strep in
the movie Out of Africa always aroused exciting visions in my gypsy heart. Visions
of being female in a male rough and ready world intrigued my adventurous spirit.
I delighted in the opportunity to be challenged not only by human inhabitants
but also by nature in its rawest form.
Although this beautiful story was written many years ago, there
are places in Africa that we visited that still remain the same.
If you had the pleasure of reading the book or seeing the movie
then you know that it is a unique love story because it is a love story that is
not between a man and women, but between a women and a place.
Staying at Glenrock Farm in Mooi River South Africa on a farm for
a few days, gave me the opportunity to feel closer to the character in this intriguing
story. Words alone cannot possibly describe the beauty and the tranquility that
we experienced staying in our cozy guest log cabin that overlooked the greenest
valley and hills imaginable. There were beautiful clear ponds filled with bass
and trout and farm animal scattered in beautiful pastures, even a few zebras.
The days were sunny cooled only by a pleasant breeze and the evenings mesmerizing
and star filled.
During our visit to Glenrock, the kind and gentle man that owned
this beautiful farm in Africa shared with us a very personal story.
You see a few years ago, he along with his brother purchased the
family farm from their parents. But early one morning a couple of months ago,
the maid began shouting summoning everyone. Sadly upon arrival, their father
found his wife and they their mother had experienced a massive heart attack
while dressing that morning. His father was inconsolable as he reached for his
dear beloved wife’s hand and with his hand in hers he collapsed in his son’s
arms. Fearing his father was overcome with grief he tried to rouse him but soon
realized that his father had also passed.
There is never an explanation that can comfort the human heart
when you lose someone you love. However, rejoicing that your parent only
suffered that pain for a moment before they joined their loved one is
unselfishly beautiful.
Roy and I felt so privileged that our new friend at Glenrock had
shared his sad yet beautiful story with us as a gift to remind us that life is
short and must be treasured.
So, as I continue on
my journey, my story can also now begin with… for a brief moment in time I had
a farm in Africa. And although at the
end of the book the Baroness had left Africa never to return again, I pray my
ending will be different.
