Hope in the Future: What Lies Ahead?

Looking out my bay window to the east gives me a nice view of my vineyard. Especially at sunrise.

Six years has passed since the last harvest of grapes. The harvest was plentiful. But the wineries in Oklahoma were suffering due to outdated laws regarding distribution. Many in our area went out of business. Many farmer’s markets required a fee since I had first begun ten years previous.

My focus was growing table grapes like Mars, Reliance, Vanessa, and Niagara. Selling the grapes at the farmers market initially worked. But other grape growers had the same idea. And the small market could not support all of us.

But initially my idea was having people come to the vineyard to pick the grapes and spend the day in the country. Unfortunately, everyone wanted wine.

The name of my vineyard was Oklahoma Rose Vineyard with the tagline: The vineyard without a winery. But that never stopped anyone from asking what kind of wine we made. LOL. Oh well.

Perhaps a name with grapes would have served me better. Regardless I went back to my nursing career to pay for my expensive hobby.

The vineyard remains despite years of neglect. The short walk down the hillside reveals scattered clusters of green grapes sheltered by leaves. To my surprise the birds and deer left the sweet treat.

The other vines look wild, but this particular muscadine vine is hearty and resistant to black rot. And tolerant of heat and drought. The vine is native to the region.

Hope

My hope was to return to the two-and-a-half-acre plot. But it never worked out. An unfulfilled dream as life took different directions.

The trellis system, once a sturdy support leans this way and that. Not to mention the times the tractor accidentally hit the end posts ☹ despite my careful driving.

hope in the future — photo by Nanette Holloway

Remnants of what was remain. I still hope for a future of renewed growth. But this venture is in God’s hands. Energy and time are the common denominator that brings a harsh reality to the forefront. My endless energy at forty diminished with a few more birthdays.