Hooked on books

Milking cows can be therapeutic. The familiar tasks, the routine movements, the time spent with the cows — the combination allows my mind to relax and ponder. This is especially true when my to-do list feels manageable.

There are times, though, particularly when I’m overwhelmed by everything else that needs to be done, when I can drown in my own thoughts. Instead of living in the moment, I end up dwelling on what needs to be done next and lamenting how long it takes to milk.

I suspect this dichotomous attitude toward milking cows exists in other farmers’ minds as well, and it is likely the reason why milking is often referred to as a chore.

In an attempt to keep milking more on the enjoyable side of the coin, we often use music to help pass the time. Indeed, music was my initial choice for auditory enhancement. From a cassette tape player years ago (because the steel siding on the barn blocked any radio signal) to the music app and earbuds I use now, thousands (millions?) of songs have provided a counter beat to the rhythm of the pulsators.

With the options provided by a smartphone and the aforementioned earbuds, I expanded from music to podcasts and nonfiction audiobooks. These media formats allow me to quench my thirst for knowledge and pursuit of becoming a better person, parent and partner.

They also reflect the choices I made when reading actual print: magazine articles and research-based nonfiction books. While I have always enjoyed books of all kinds — developed through hour-long bus rides to and from school — I began to avoid fictional titles after we started farming. It is far too easy for me to fall into the trap of “one more chapter,” and that sort of trap is incompatible with the demands of dairy farming.

So, it is with the fondness born of absence that my reacquaintance with fictional novels became my current auditory accompaniment to chores.

I started reading a fictional title during a trip last fall, thinking I’d be able to read the whole book during my travel time. I did not reach the conclusion before returning home and knew it wouldn’t be wise to continue. So, I found the audio version in our public library’s audiobook app and was able to finish the book while doing my chores.

Since then, I’ve been hooked. I always have a book downloaded to listen to while milking or feeding calves. My rediscovery of the joys of fiction has been more than enjoyable. The power of living in two worlds for a little while is soothing on its own; combined with the doing of worthwhile work, the experience is transcendent. The discord of trying to enjoy reading while feeling like I’m not getting anything else done is eliminated.

Immersing myself in the plot and characters of a book’s world allows me to appreciate the moments of my own world rather than brooding on what’s next or ruminating on what’s happening in the news. It’s like putting blinders on a workhorse.

Between farm work, housework and driving time, the hours of listening add up quickly. I can usually finish an average-length book in a day or two. I try to rotate between genres: historical, dystopian, mysteries and thrillers. I also rotate between books with intense themes and those I consider easy listening.

Monika and Daphne have recommended several wonderful book series; it’s been delightful to discuss the books as I listen to them — like having our own little book club. I often just scroll through the listings in the audiobook app until I find a title that looks appealing.

I tend to gravitate toward historical fiction the most, perhaps because of the educational component. I’m always so impressed by the research undertaken by authors of historical fiction and the way their stories augment what I learned in history class. Some of the World War II novels I’ve listened to have been particularly illustrative. And one book about the Vietnam War made me seriously reconsider my understanding of that time. I ended up listening to it a second time just to let it all sink in. I know a book is good when it makes me pause to pull up a map of the region or do my own research.

It can be awkward to explain to whomever I’m milking with why I’m smirking or why there are suddenly tears spilling out of my eyes. But I’ve come to believe that regularly exercising all of your emotions in a fictional world is a way to keep them in shape for experiencing the real world. I feel calmer and more resilient now than I have in years.

What book should I listen to next? Seriously, send me your recommendations.

Sadie Frericks and her husband, Glen, milk 100 cows near Melrose, Minnesota. They have three children: Dan, Monika, and Daphne. Sadie also writes a blog at www.dairygoodlife.com. She can be reached at sadiefrericks@gmail.com.