The farming life doesn’t typically allow for spontaneity.
If you’ve ever been to a gathering where there are farming people in attendance, you’ll notice around 5 to 6 p.m., these folks start to gather things up and begin their trek home (if not earlier). Evening chores await to get the animals fed, watered and put up for the night. An overnight stay is a whole other set of challenges and almost always is avoided.
I’ve said before I’m a bit of a cheat when it comes to farming because I have chickens. Chickens are relatively forgiving if I don’t get to them before they roost for the night, but my delay in putting them up could potentially have dire consequences from a stray skunk, raccoon or other such vermin making its way into the cozy coop to settle in and start feasting on my feathered ladies as the sun sets below the western horizon.
Knock on every wood imaginable I haven’t had that happen, but it’s always a matter of when, not if. Until then, I’ll continue to play a sort of roulette with a high dose of thankfulness that I’ve been fortunate.
So when I had the chance this past weekend to see the famous Christmas rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra on a Sunday night, I was a bit leery about leaving things so quickly. I have wanted to see this band since the first time I heard their song “Wizards in Winter” and always dreamed about what the experience would be like.
Every year the TSO would come to Indy, I would either not have the time to go or would be completely void of any extra cash to spring for a ticket. I’m approaching a big birthday milestone this next year, and I guess with that comes the desire to stop putting things off, and if I can make it happen, make it happen.
Call me irresponsible, call me sporadic, but I knew if I didn’t spring to get a ticket this year, I would have to wait yet another year, and I was tired of waiting. I fed all of the animals and through some good fortune discovered the birds decided to roost early, so I could get their coop doors closed for the night.
At 6:06 p.m., less than two hours before the concert was to start, I downloaded the Ticketmaster app, winced at the processing fees and purchased a ticket that was in Row 1 of Section 7 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse (it will always be Conseco to me).
The concert was nothing short of everything I had dreamed it to be and more. The laser lights, the fog, the fire, the music and even at one point, snow. I found myself to be grinning like a complete fool as two musicians climbed atop a rotating stage and managed to connect with several audience members, including myself, through the point of a violin bow or nod.
The two-and-a-half-hour concert seemed to fly by, and when the final number was played, I felt like stomping my foot and refusing to leave. It was exactly what this crazy Clucka needed for a stress break from holiday dog treat baking, farm chores, theater rehearsal and the two jobs that are needed to keep this operation running.
Do I see myself being as spontaneous again any time soon? Probably not, but in the meantime, I’ll think back on that one night I literally made a decision within the hour and will not ever regret it.
Until next time…
Stephanie Strothmann is the owner of Purple Shamrock Farm LLC in rural Seymour. Send comments to [email protected].