Is this heaven? No, it’s Rappahannock: One woman’s tribute to the fields of her dreams
By Chris Doxzen
Moving here to Rappahannock County was one of the best decisions I think I’ve ever made, and I believe I can say without hesitation that for so many of us, Rappahannock is a sanctuary, a haven from the outside world.
You can feel the tension visibly disappear coming over those rolling hills on Route 211 driving towards Massie’s Corner and leaving behind Warrenton and Interstate 66 and Manassas and I-495 and the sardine-can traffic and rude drivers and crowded shopping center parking lots and the blaring radios with pounding rap music emanating from the cars creeping beside you, assaulting your sensibilities.
And then you reach Harris Hollow and people smile and wave passing you by–an old Virginia tradition still alive and well here. Time stands still, and even just simple activities bring joy.–like the weekly visit to the town dump and shopping at the “Flatwood Mall” AKA the free table, and chatting with Jerry and buying fresh fruits and vegetables and meats from the local organic farms and orchards and fruit stands, and smiling when your 14-year-old son tells you that you cooked him the best chicken dinner he’s ever had in his life and spending Thursday evenings with half the town at Griffin Tavern playing Trivia.
And then of course there are the views–those amazing, dramatic mountain views, where a simple ride down Fodderstack Road takes your breath away and the sound of the Rush River takes the place of turning on your car radio, and the fact that I can walk my dogs quietly in the evening on my dirt road and watch them happily swim in the river and come running back up to me, wagging their tails furiously, so excited to soak me.
And every season brings with it stunning beauty, even the cold stark winter days with the snow dusting the mountains - it’s simply awesome. And don’t even get me started on the wildlife here: Walking in the woods and startling a wild turkey and watching a bear in the pasture quietly munching on berries while your horses continue to graze, totally oblivious…and horseback riding and being careful to avoid the fawn nestled in the tall grass or stopping the truck to get out and move a turtle from the road… or stopping the truck to simply wait for a beautiful crane to lift up its wings and soar over the road and back to the safety of the river and listening to the amazing sound of the peepers trumpeting the beginning of spring.
I can’t imagine living anywhere else and for the first time in years, I simply have no urge to find a place in the world to explore and go on vacation to “get away.” I am away–and I don’t ever want to leave.
Editor’s Note: Chris Doxzen moved to Rappahannock County from Fairfax several years ago and lives in Harris Hollow with husband Dan, son Hans and daughter Brianna, where she works at home “with three dogs typically draped about my legs, a kitty that isn’t excited about the new puppy Otto, and my beautiful horses grazing in the pasture.” We thank her for permission to reprint this message she sent to the Rappnet e-mail list.
-- Admin
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