Only in the Country #3

     As my family was driving across Iowa yesterday we saw an amazing, stop-the-car-and-take-a-picture sight. It was a rather large group of bald eagles feasting on what looked like a deer carcass.

 

There is something about seeing an eagle that makes me feel so patriotic, and seeing a whole flock of them together was just such a great sight. I kept telling my kids that they would probably never see anything like this again in their lives.

 

 

We did a little research today and discovered that a grouping of eagles is officially titled a "convocation". 

 

 

 

When we had first stopped, we counted about 30 of them gathered there. The highway traffic didn't seem to bother them.  The longer we watched, the less there seemed to be.

 

 As the meat disappeared, so did the convocation.............but you'll get that in a small town.

 

Culture Clash

Two cultures came to a head this morning in our sleepy little town. 

'Wonder what they're saying?

 

 

"Is this how it goes up, Elmer?"

   

"Yah, dat so, Amos"

 

 

"Here we go!"

 

"Whoa, ain't never been this high up before!"

 

"Careful there, Elmer, there be a truck coming."

 

 

"I think we got the hang of it!"

 

 

 





"Do yah tink the bishop'd let us get one of these here contraptions?"

"Nah, Amos, it be too worldly."

 

.....but you'll get that in a small town.

Granny in a Grain Truck

    

     We met at the four-way stop the other day.  She waved a beautifully manicured hand. She was sitting high in an International grain truck, laden down with freshly harvested grain, headed for the elevator.  I had noticed earlier that there was a long line of grain trucks waiting their turn to be checked and weighed.  She knew what was ahead of her, but still, she smiled.
     This was a tough year for the farmers of our area.  We went for over 3 months with very little or no rain. Though it was an inconvenience to most of us wanting green lawns and healthy gardens, it spelled trouble for those who rely on the weather to help make their living.  Funds would be limited due to the extremely small crops this year.  This lady had very likely been through years like this before.  She knew that there were no extra funds to hire help and so, she was the help.
     I imagined what life must have been like for the  young couple many years ago.  It was probably fun for the newly married farmer to teach his wife how to drive a straight transmission; she, the willing learner; he, the patient teacher.  He may have made the first delivery with her, showing her the ropes of where to maneuver the big truck on the scales and what to tell the operator.  He most likely went in and introduced her to the workers. Her first trip alone may have been a worrisome one for the farmer, anxiously awaiting her return.  As the years passed, she became his trusted helper, always available to help when an extra hand was needed. She was proud of her part in the work of the field and filled the gaps when she could.  They kept together during the tough times, knowing that things would always get better.
     Today, she is still that proud worker.  Her perfectly coiffed hair and beautiful smile tell the tale of a lady, happy to be who she was meant to be. No need to find fulfillment elsewhere, her man is her job!  Pleasing him pleases her.  She grew up with the old time values that gave her the strength to stand by her man through thick and thin. 
     You go, granny!  Keep grinning and grinding those gears!  You are an inspiration to those of us who are also trying to keep the old time values and keep our men happy.  I'm glad that I had the privilege of seeing that granny in a grain truck........but you'll get that in a small town.