farmdoc's blog post number 226

Jim Phelps was hero of the TV series Mission Impossible. Each episode, as I recall, would begin with Jim receiving details of his latest impossible mission by activating a little tape recorder which told him ‘Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is…’ Sweetheart Vivienne and I have accepted a mission impossible. It is to do exactly enough for each of our four darling daughters, and to be in each’s life exactly enough. Not too much or too little. Not over-enmeshed or under-enmeshed. We invariably get it wrong. But we try our hardest. Late last week darling Emily tour managed, and was supporting artist to, Justin Townes Earle. Last Saturday darling Meg co-hosted with PJ a wedding party at their home. And darling Kate was co-founder of last Sunday’s inaugural Daylesford Makers’ Market. It’d be a blatant lie to say that Sweetheart Vivienne and I, in Sydney, were oblivious of our darlings’ endeavours. Frankly, we were bloody anxious. Turns out we had no need to be, though. The tour, party and market were all successful. Spectacularly so, apparently. We never doubted our darling ones could do it. But their apprehensions are our apprehensions. Why wouldn’t they be? We’re all on the same team. And, I expect, next time they face similar challenges, we’ll be just as nervous. Because our mission impossible is unending.