Today, I may face the need to mow about two-thirds of our cow pasture, er, I mean our lawn. Maybe this will slow down the growing some. There are signs of that and I don’t know whether to be glad or sad. I really enjoy the lawn and seeing all Barb’s work bringing it to fuller growth and maturity. But, Fall brings such cool mornings and late afternoons and the pleasure of being out in it without having to take the time to decide when it will be ready to mow again.
We didn’t have this dilemma in Texas. We just had two seasons there—Hot and Not. Just kidding Texas friends, I remember long Falls and long Springs. I say these things about Texas for the benefit of the rest of the country’s attitude. And I know you appreciate my furthering the cause giving less reason to come and crowd up the state of Texas
Recently, in Mentone, AL, I visited the best little “farmer’s market” around. I say little because it is little. You have to visit it in a hurry because it isn’t open but 3 hours and only 8-9 booths; some produce, some crafts, some homemade breads, best honey around, and good free coffee, if you’re a mind to. But, the best thing of all is the conversations. You can just start up with anyone and it is easy to find yourself 15 minutes later, still in that conversation.
Today, I found myself talking to a restaurant manager I know (briefly) and telling him a story or two from my home town. (Proving that he is clearly a better listener than I am a story-teller.)
He politely listened as I told him about Cort, an elderly man when I was in high school who was known by everybody for miles around as a tremendous h.s. basketball fan—when I played it had been years since Cort had missed a game. He was asked by a newspaper reporter one day what was the secret to winning in h.s. basketball? Cort replied, “simple, get ahead and stay ahead!” The reporter come back with, “how do you do that?” “Make the first basket, then match ‘em, basket for basket!” Ol’ Cort said. …That is simple.
I walked up to a wood carver’s booth and saw a tool box which had on its lid a bumper sticker promoting “Ocracoke Island” (outer banks off NC coast.) Since we have a friend living there, I ask were they from there. They said, “no, but we’ve loved going there for years! Our grown children living in New York still ask if we’re going there this year, every year.” Then we went on to talk about the island, our friend’s achievements, etc. What a wonderful, casual conversation which, hopefully, will lead to more and with more substance.
Substantive conversation is better than prittle-prattle, don’t you think?
Thanks for reading, the Elder
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