I have been blessed over the past week with many moving condolences on the loss of my mother and have appreciated every one of them. However, there was one that seemed particularly insightful, from a good friend and gentleman-farmer. Here it is:
Two nights ago the farmer put some of his herd in the field just below our house. The rest of the cows were left in an adjacent pasture separated from the first by our driveway. Immediately there was this incessant … bellowing. Mooing doesn’t begin to capture the sound. It seemed that every cow was joining in – from both pastures. The sound lasted all night. It was stressful. And distressful.
The next morning I saw the farmer and asked about what we had been hearing. He said they had separated the young calves from their mothers for the first time. That was the cause of all the noise.
It seems odd – all this bellowing. And then it doesn’t. It’s something I can understand.
I was sorry to hear about the loss of your mother.