<p class="ql-block">As the old saying goes, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks," and this couldn't be more true when it comes to my 85 - year - old father - in - law and his unwavering love for farming. His passion for tilling the soil is like an indelible ink that has seeped deep into the fabric of his being, a lifelong obsession that seems to have no end in sight.</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">Just a month ago, a chainsaw mishap left his right hand severely injured. The long and arduous process of recovery was a test of both his physical and mental fortitude. But as soon as the wound started to heal, as if driven by some invisible force, he was back at it again. He climbed onto his trusty old tricycle, that creaky relic of his daily adventures, and set off towards the fields, heedless of the risks that lurked around every corner.</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">Alas, his one - handed attempt at maneuvering the tricycle proved to be a recipe for disaster. In a moment of clumsy misjudgment, he veered off course and crashed into the unforgiving curb. The poor tricycle took the brunt of the impact, its frame twisted and bent, a sorry sight that spoke volumes about the folly of his actions. By some stroke of luck, though, he emerged from the wreckage unscathed, a minor miracle that left me both relieved and exasperated in equal measure.</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">I'm reminded of Mark Twain's words, "Good decisions come from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad decisions." My father - in - law's penchant for throwing caution to the wind in the name of his beloved farming is a prime example. I've tried reasoning with him, pleading with him to take it easy, to enjoy the fruits of his labor in the comfort of his home during his golden years. But he's as stubborn as a mule, his mind made up, his heart set on continuing down this perilous path.</p><p class="ql-block"> </p><p class="ql-block">It's a constant source of anxiety for me, watching him put himself in harm's way time and time again. I understand that the fields hold a special place in his heart, a connection to a lifetime of hard work and memories. But at his age, with his recent injury still fresh in my mind, it's a terrifying prospect. I can only hope and pray that he'll eventually see the light, that he'll realize that there's more to vie (pronounced /viː/, meaning "life" in English) than risking it all for the love of the land. Until then, I'll be here, holding my breath, waiting for the day when he finally decides to call it quits and embrace a safer, more peaceful way of life.</p>