Fifty Years of Moments

Fifty years ago, this summer I stood in this field next to my father’s house in Massachusetts, the house I grew up in. It was the summer of 1976, and my father took this picture of me next to this tall sunflower I had grown that summer in his garden.  I was 21 years old and about to leave home to go to Oklahoma State University to study agriculture. My head was full of dreams, dreams of changing the world by ending hunger for the hungry, dreams of winning a gold medal in the marathon.  I was so young, so naive, so innocent but also full of heart and determination to follow my dreams.  It was a poignant moment.  Now 50 years later I find myself standing by a sunflower in our garden in Colorado. In all those moments are so many memories and stories of a life lived. It’s close to an overwhelming feeling to reflect on and remember all those moments, memories and stories.