Just a Little Sad

The Carroll County 4-H Fair is over.

Now I know.....it was different this year with all of the COVID-19 fears and precautions.

I know it isn't our home county, but it is becoming the home county of three of our grandchildren.

And the disappointment is not just with the fair itself.  It is with what it encompasses.

Because the fair is over, the projects are finished.  When Megan and Hilary were in 4-H, I was SO glad when the fair was over BECAUSE the projects were finished....except for the State Fair entries.  If there had been a Grand Champion in foods or flowers or something else that was perishable, it had to be re-baked or re-picked to take to Indianapolis; otherwise, everything was done and we could relax.

But this year....projects being finished means one thing.  We won't see the kids as much as we have been.

Landon won't be having cookie-baking sessions with me.

They won't be coming over twice a day to feed the animals.

Pigs won't be washed often or walked every day.

Goats won't be walked and washed and trimmed.

No more impromptu meals in the party barn.

No more sitting in the gazebo after walking the pigs and chatting about the day's events.

Sitting on the deck in the evenings will be finished.

We won't hear the chime of the doorbell and see Owen peeking in the door to see if we are coming so he can step down the steps as he waits for the door to open.

Tessa and Owen won't be chasing around after Finn, looking in the barn and along the soybean field to find him.

The supply of popsicles and kid drinks won't need to be replenished since the kids won't be here as much.

No more activity in the barn since the pigs will be going to the butcher shop on Monday.

I am sad.

I understand a little more how Leo and Agnes felt after the fair when the girls stopped going over every day to work on the calves.

I dread the sense of emptiness that I will feel when I anticipate that the kids will be here sometime in the morning (and maybe for breakfast) and always in the evening (and something for dinner).

I will miss hearing about their days and seeing Owen's smile.

I will miss the hugs before they leave.

I will miss the sneaky requests to spend the night.

I am just a little sad.