If
you’ve never visited Lake Erie, I
thoroughly recommend that you consider taking a trip to the area one day. I write this as a native of the area. Born and raised in London, Ontario, I’ve been
living on the border of Lake Erie for almost my entire life, and I now own a 50-acre
farm on Lake Erie, which I live on with my husband. And I have to say, besides the joy I get from
my profession (I’m a OB/GYN doctor by training), nothing gives me more pleasure
and more sense of belonging than when I’m on my farm.
I
studied gynecology and obstetric
medicine in medical school and for many years, I served as an
OB/GYN doctor performing gynecological surgeries and (my favourite part of my
job) delivering babies. I worked hard to
become Dr. Cathy Frank and I have a lot of pride in having earned my medical
degree. But, nothing has given me more
satisfaction than guiding a new birth and watching a new mother’s face light up
as she holds her child for the first time.
That’s what I experienced as
an OB/GYN regularly and
the beauty of the moment has never been lost on me.
In
some ways, I can say the same thing about my farm on Lake Erie. It’s a source of beauty; it’s a source of
rejuvenation; and in the more stressful or difficult times in my life, my farm
has served as a source of peace and tranquility.
Let
me tell you what my husband and I have on our farm (and in case you won’t be able
to tell, I love animals almost as much as I love babies). We have two horses, two mini donkeys (who
love to walk to the lake with us). We
have two sheep, a black and a white one.
We have two mini goats and two regular-size goats. And we have an undisclosed number of cats
(hint: it’s a lot). I don’t have any
favorite animals – I love them all and they’re all members of our big
family. I have to admit, it sometimes
feels like we’re on Noah’s Arc. But,
that’s part of the reason why I love it.
Horse
riding used to be my most favourite passion.
I’ve ridden horses ever since I was a kid, and having a farm gave me all
the space I needed to ride my horses.
Unfortunately, several years ago, I fractured my pelvis, which put an
end to my horse riding days. But, I can
go outside still and visit my horses, which gives me a tremendous sense of
comfort.
Without
horse riding in my life, reading has stepped up and become my favourite pastime. Doesn’t matter the season – summer, winter,
fall, I’m always reading. And in my
opinion, living on a farm makes enjoying that pastime all the easier. Fewer distractions, less noise, the inviting
calm of the countryside – these are all the things that allow me to sit down
with a book and read for hours on end (or at least until my husband comes
home). I have bookshelves lined with
books and, trust me, my next task will be trying to unload our house of some
them.
I
know I’m not the only one who loves the quiet beauty of life on the farm. And if you’re one who likes the country and
bucolic environments, then find some time to travel around Lake Erie – you
won’t regret it.
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