Friday, July 11, 2008
INDEPENDENCE MONTH.....
We have had a busy week here. Becky has had some high-level programs to develop for upcoming teaching commitments and I have been busy with my on-going remodeling. I needed something to get my artistic juices going so decided on some new looks at home. I could live in my little house forever and not miss going anywhere…….however, that isn’t possible in this day and age.
On weekends Becky and I shop for our booths and during the week we prepare our “finds” for sale. The traffic at the Barns where we have our booths keeps us hopping to keep our shelves full. Life in the Ozarks goes on much the same in bad times as good times. Ozarks folks like a bargain and are not apt to overspend. They are not harnessed to credit cards as the urban folks so there is always pocket money to shop the Flea Markets.
No wonder. There are fabulous buys if you take the time to meander through aisles of merchandise waiting to be found. For those of us who enjoy the quest of the unusual, it is most gratifying. Ozark people know how to navigate through hard times, make time to visit when the opportunity presents itself and not get too interested in what they have no control over.
I have lived in this area long enough to realize “keeping busy” is not required. I have shifted to their way of thinking that life is to be enjoyed, not being worked to death. Most folks are craft savvy and can play several instruments and sing a song they “made up.” I think the intelligence level is equal……just different when compared to an executive position on Wall Street.
I was born in the North and am a Yankee by the fact of my birth place. The Yankee’s won the war but the Rebels won the way of life. We could learn a lot about Southern living……they take time. Time to do the work, time to play, time to grieve for the dying and a direct impulse to keep the prayer going to the God they believe in.
Being content where you are, who you are and happy with what you have is an acquired life-style. They would rather have and be a good friend than to have money. Somehow they discovered money is not the freedom maker that character is. They love their independence and don’t intrude on your space.
Small-town, USA……….how I love this little acre. How grateful I am to end up where I am and to have sense enough to know what a good life it is. Years ago in the book Pat Boone wrote, he said to “bloom where you are planted.” I couldn’t agree more, just make sure you are planted in good solid ground. North, South, East or West, we are in the best country in the world.
Essentially Esther
On weekends Becky and I shop for our booths and during the week we prepare our “finds” for sale. The traffic at the Barns where we have our booths keeps us hopping to keep our shelves full. Life in the Ozarks goes on much the same in bad times as good times. Ozarks folks like a bargain and are not apt to overspend. They are not harnessed to credit cards as the urban folks so there is always pocket money to shop the Flea Markets.
No wonder. There are fabulous buys if you take the time to meander through aisles of merchandise waiting to be found. For those of us who enjoy the quest of the unusual, it is most gratifying. Ozark people know how to navigate through hard times, make time to visit when the opportunity presents itself and not get too interested in what they have no control over.
I have lived in this area long enough to realize “keeping busy” is not required. I have shifted to their way of thinking that life is to be enjoyed, not being worked to death. Most folks are craft savvy and can play several instruments and sing a song they “made up.” I think the intelligence level is equal……just different when compared to an executive position on Wall Street.
I was born in the North and am a Yankee by the fact of my birth place. The Yankee’s won the war but the Rebels won the way of life. We could learn a lot about Southern living……they take time. Time to do the work, time to play, time to grieve for the dying and a direct impulse to keep the prayer going to the God they believe in.
Being content where you are, who you are and happy with what you have is an acquired life-style. They would rather have and be a good friend than to have money. Somehow they discovered money is not the freedom maker that character is. They love their independence and don’t intrude on your space.
Small-town, USA……….how I love this little acre. How grateful I am to end up where I am and to have sense enough to know what a good life it is. Years ago in the book Pat Boone wrote, he said to “bloom where you are planted.” I couldn’t agree more, just make sure you are planted in good solid ground. North, South, East or West, we are in the best country in the world.
Essentially Esther
