It tasted sweeter somehow....

I don't yet know many folks in these parts.  My take on what those around me perceive- I'm a very open friendly sort, so on first impression- I think people wonder what my agenda is...

I have never been the sort of personality that hides behind a fake smile- I never was much of a poker player either- the glee or gall of my hand would be written all over my face.  My brothers and Dad took full advantage of my meager coinage.

  Is it so hard to believe in a fellow traveler...that we don't all have some kind of hidden agenda, just at the ready to pounce on a kind soul?  I think people do mistake kindness at times for weakness...although it's not the worst thing in the world to be underestimated.

 Sometimes, when I get my back up- I speak quick and hard to certain reptilian personalities.  Not to reprimand them, but to make them think, OK...maybe sometimes I do correct, but with good intentions.  Like yesterday for instance, after trying to make my exit from a local gas station.  I held the door for a kindly old man;  My- the smile he gave me...it was like an embrace from a ray of sunshine!  Standing there in that glow, another able bodied couple walked in- no problem, I was still basking.  Then a younger fellow grabbed the door, bustled in through the couple, knocking into the old man.  And then spoke none too kindly to the group at hand. I am a  mother.  Children grown, but that kind of behavior might make me grab an ear or two and haul their little rumps front and center and call them on it.

Anyway- I put a headlock of words on the young asshole, 'scuse my French.  Not many syllables were needed, just this-

"Shame on you."

I won't credit him one bit with what his lack of brain power mumbled.

I stood hard and fast, echoing my original statement.

"Shame on you."

By Jesus I must have put the fear of God in him...or maybe it was the trucker dude behind me, backing me up. (Ain't it great when people do get involved, not by force but merely stance?!)

I do believe the misguided kid was actually shamed, maybe sorry even...not by what I said but by the fact that all eyes were upon him, no cursing was directed at him...just folks holding him accountable for HIS actions.

Anyway, small victories on the part of good manners is worth a chunk of chocolate.  Which I bought.  And ate.  It tasted sweeter somehow...


Take care-

Darn kids

(mailbox before the assault...)


Good morning...looked like rain behind the rainbow I caught sight of this morning- and no camera in tow, me in my pocket less airplane pajama pants, walking down the road- following a trail.

Some poor misguided foolish kids knocked my mailbox over last night- I live on a dead end road, and apparently am too heavy of a sleeper to have reacted correctly to the commotion of Retrievers retreating with snarling barks and heavy growls. I do recall hearing that commotion...but the coyotes around here take full advantage of the cover of corn fields creeping right up to my fence line...so close to the chickens and yet, guarded by the aforementioned dogs who unwelcome the wild with a presence fearful enough- wild paws do not dare traipse across the boundaries of a more civilized land.

So- in a nutshell, coyotes and dogs cause turbulence almost every night here, mailbox smashing idiots most likely go unnoticed- and they did. But- they were driving a pickup I suspect by their muddy tire treads, an off road type, judging by the size of the tires. So inexperienced were they, and quite a bit messy...I suppose I could follow along their trail of smashed up postal posts and figure out just about who they were- as they have left behind all kinds of clues. Not to mention this is a small town, people talk...these kids probably boasted around quite a bit about their misdeeds. My own teens may travel in some of those circles...they're not angels, my young 'uns- but I'd certainly hope they'd never destroy the property of another or do faceless senseless, cowardly things in the middle of the night.

I can fix my post without a moments hesitation, but what of the elderly and infirmed out here in the big country? Something like a smashed mailbox could tie them up a bit, not many come to the simple aid of country neighbors these days. Geez, you know where I'm going with this...I mean, I have a drill and am able bodied enough to go around and make sure my neighbors, the ones incapable of fixing slight construction jobs- at the very least might get their mail today. As if I don't have enough to do...though, you just never know what good you might do or what hope one might instill by simple acts of fixing something. During this hell week, it would sure do me good to do someone else good...lemme help.
(I always liked that lyric from that song...I'll yodel or Tarzan call in a group presence of your choosing if you can come up with the name of that song and the singer...bit of trivia here, I'm stumped.)

Darn kids.

Take care-