As the sun was setting, I walked to the covered bridge and then by the creek, passing friends and neighbors along the way, stopping to say, Hello, how are you? It's one of my favorite things to do. Familiar people, familiar pets, familiar stories shared. They make me laugh, they warm my heart. The first neighbor I passed was walking his dog, Mollie. Now I know that their next door neighbor also has a dog, Jackson, who is never far behind. Mollie is always on a leash, but Jackson is sort of a free agent. I think he knows where home is, but he's the kind of guy who believes that home is wherever he hangs his hat, or wipes his paws. Maybe he's right. I didn't see him, and so I asked, Where is Jackson? He was up there a minute ago, my friend said, as he pointed to a fenced in pasture area. He was rolling in horse poop. When he comes in my house tonight, he's going straight to the shower. I can see why Jackson might have some ownership identity issues. Now that's a good friend and neighbor.
On my return, I stopped at the dock by the lake joining neighbors and friends who were enjoying the water and the warmer temperature today. As the darkness fell, they dwindled to one couple and myself, and they asked if I'd like a ride in the truck the rest of the way home. I said, Sure, I'll ride in the back, that's adventure riding, I've always loved doing that. Just slow down at my mailbox, and I'll jump out... but they wouldn't hear of it and tucked me into the cab with them all cozy and safe.
That's my life in the country, it's nice.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
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