being frank

CeCe and I always loved to capture the scenery around the farm. It was a way for us to chronicle our adventures and discoveries so we could revisit them at some far-off time in the future and exclaim, remember when we saw_______?

This was one of those moments. Taken on December 1, 2022 as we were finishing up our nightly chores in the barn. I had taken the wheelbarrow outside to dump the manure we had collected from Charlie’s stall. As I was returning to the barn, I looked up to see the moon shining brightly in the sky. Because it was so cold out that night, a ring of ice crystals had formed in the higher atmosphere to accentuate the moonlight. I quickly grabbed my phone and took the picture. I came back inside and showed it to CeCe; she was thrilled.

That’s from tonight? Lemme go see!

We both went outside and just stood there to admire the view. She then thanked me for capturing the moment, and said,

This is our home, baby.

No arguments from me. We hugged, kissed, then went back to finish our stall duties.

I entitled this story as Signs because the photo was taken fifteen days before I’d have to rush CeCe to the hospital to begin the final chapter of our journey together. In hindsight, I should have taken her picture. For that was where the love was in full display; that’s where a memory for the ages resided. The moon will always shine on frosty nights, and a ring will always form in the sky when the conditions are right. But that look of love that was on her face no longer exists except in memory – and I’ve come to realize the inherent value of that photo.