The asparagus is waning and there will be only one more cutting. In the background, the wheat is headed and beginning to “turn” to a golden hue that shifts in the wind as if a great golden sea. I believe Kansans learn their colors against these fields.
Mama says, “Look at those fields, Niña. That is GREEN.”
“See that lettuce coming up, Niña? That is GREEN.”
And there must be some culminating mastery test for babies that is “See that big John Deere combine coming up the road? What color is that?” Her bright child can only answer, “GREEN!”
My own son seemed to be in high gear through those early stages. Although there were no words, he had eyes that took in the world with such happiness. He was just super-bright from the beginning. He spoke his first word when he saw his grandfather drive around the barn on the great self-propelled John Deere combine. He jumped up and down and chanted, “Bombine! Bombine! Bombine!.” Since he was only about 9 months old, I groaned and said, “Katie, bar the door. The child has taught himself language!”
Many years into adulthood, I saw fields in desert country and friends remarked about their green beauty. I could only chuckle at their judgment and offer, “Green? Shoot, you want to see GREEN, come up to Kansas where we shoot a little nitrogen on the ground. Now THAT’s green!”
These are the weeks of such color and I am in deep appreciation of the earth. It just makes swinging in the porch swing such a pleasure. It is a sweet evening as I push slightly with my foot and read a good book. Kansas evening just closes in about me, the slight breeze whispers.
