d. They still brag and carry on about his genius endeavor, as they do with both of us for the many special encounters accumulated during our formative years.My reasons for loving that farm cannot be so simply expressed. I cannot narrow my reason into one great memory, and I cannot say when exactly I fell in love with the Tailor farm; perhaps it was from the first time I stepped onto the warm and inviting soil. There were moments when I'd get a burst of happy energy and run through the field with my hair flying behind me. The corn was at least four feet above my head. Running through it gave me a secret place all my own, like a completely separate planet that was occupied by only me. Most often, after playing in the corn fieldI went to the bend in the brook where the deepest spot was, and after removing all unnecessary clothing I swam, pretending I was a mermaid in the ocean. I loved to watch my long red hair sway under the water with my graceful swimming motion. If the sun's ray danced on my hair just right, beautiful colors would stream through the clear utopian water.After supper each night everyone collected on the large screened-in front porch. The grown-ups drank cans of cold Coors beer while my brother and I sipped cans of Sprite or 7-up. Lightening bugs danced in the near darkness while crickets sang to the melody. After a time the porch light came on and a card game would emerge for the men to play. My mother and Mrs. Tailor would stay at their seats to talk or share recipes. Forest and I shared the responsibility of getting cold beer from the kitchen keeping all satisfied. On one occasion I asked to join the game. Surprisingly, I was more than welcome; Forest was invited too but declined. He was more interested in finding a Mason jar to collect lightning bugs. I received a quick lesson in the poker game, "Five card draw". As poker is mostly played with cash, each player "spotted" me a dollar, starting me at...
