Chasing Shadows

Leaving the house before 5:30 am, my farmer husband and I headed to Nebraska in the silver pickup, pulling a flatbed trailer. We made a pit stop at IHOP in Junction City to devour a breakfast of champions. I had my favorite chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, and hot chocolate meal.

After chatting for a while, I closed my eyes while my farmer husband listened to a farm marketing podcast series.  Naps are possible on Kansas roads, but once into Nebraska, it’s a whole different story. Nebraska highways are very bumpy, especially pulling a trailer.

Stopping for fuel in Nebraska, I spotted a big sign near the diesel pumps that read, “Let’s Go, Brandon.” I tried to persuade my farmer husband to run over to the sign with me so we could take our picture next to it. He was an unwilling participant.

The fuel pump facility did not have a public restroom available. Traveling down the road, we stopped at the next accessible location. A new building was in the process of being built, but the current building was an old creepy-looking convenience store. However, I was pleasantly surprised once I was in the facility. Very friendly employees, and the bathrooms were spacious and clean.

My farmer husband rarely travels down the interstate or major highways, we always take the back roads. Traveling through small towns, we see more of the old farmsteads and unique sights.

Minden, Nebraska, is home to the Pioneer Village. Every time we drive past the museum, my farmer husband always says we should stop and spend a day here. I love looking at the old houses in Minden. I adore the character, and there are many beautiful, restored older homes to see in Minden.

Did you know Nebraska has islands? We drove through the first one on the way to our first stop, it was named Willow Island.

The first stop was a fancy farm, beautifully organized. The house was updated with a pool and a beautiful outdoor brick fireplace in the backyard. The big fans we came to retrieve were lined up in perfect rows outback near the grain bins.

The farm owner came driving up in a bright yellow JCB with a big German Shepard running beside the tires. The dog was running around the moving piece of equipment, whining and barking. I leaned against the pickup watching the dog, trying to figure out what in the world he was doing. As the JCB strategically moved around to pick up the pallet of fans, the dog was going crazy attempting to catch the rotating shadows caused by the moving piece of equipment. Struggling to catch the moving shadows seemed to be a constant battle for this beautiful dog. After the JCB was parked and sitting still, the dog yipped and pawed at the shadows cast on the ground by our trailer.

I talked to the owner after he finished loading. The dog’s name is Murphy. They had gotten Murphy about a year ago from a family that lived in town and had to move. The dog had been crated most of its life.

The kind gentleman explained how dogs that are confined to small spaces and do not exercise are prone to this behavior, they lack physical and mental stimulation. The man wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to get Murphy to see more than the shadows. As we pulled away, the JCB moved towards the building, and Murphy was back at his endless game.

We continued to our next stop, located outside of Grand Island. The farm supported Agritourism with a large seasonal pumpkin patch facility. The owner permitted me to look around the facility while loading our trailer. It was a fabulous facility with many different things to do for all ages. A beautiful red and white barn was set up as an eating/meeting facility in the middle of the farm providing wonderful, covered porches.

Walking back to our truck, I spotted a big orange pumpkin shooter with a sticker that read Helgoth’s Pumpkin Patch. I decided I would like to take my farmer husband’s picture in the huge orange chair in the photo-op setup. We ended up taking my picture in the chair instead. Looking at the pictures he had just taken while walking back to the truck, he commented about little Debbie in the chair. Hmmm, that’s original. Like I’ve never heard that little joke before.

It was a good day and a fun trip. However, I can’t seem to get that big German Shepard out of my mind. My heart can’t seem to get past the sadness I felt watching Murphy endlessly chase shadows. Even though he is free from his kennel and on an amazing farm with plenty of interesting things to see and do, Murphy only looks down, chasing shadows. That is all he knows.

I realized that I am often like Murphy. Now every time I look at my phone, I think of Murphy. I don’t want to miss out on all the beauty and connections I can make with people because I am constantly looking down at words on a screen, completely missing out on interesting things in life surrounding me. I don’t want to be consumed with something meaningless like Murphy is.

Focus on your surroundings and experience amazing nature by soaking in the beauty of the blue sky, listening to the leaves rattling on the trees overhead, or watching a ladybug crawl up a flower. Go walking or fishing with a friend, pick some flowers, and take them to your neighbor.  Don’t be a Murphy and miss the experience of everything around you because your focus is on a screen. Visit GoExperienceNature.com for ideas on how to enjoy the great outdoors.