Just wondering...

...what life would be like IF...

• Businesses were as accountable as they expect YOU to be!

DISH did NOT deliver my hi-speed Internet! (yet they took our $$!!) We only received a recorded message yesterday morning, very slurred & unable to decipher. I had to sit "on hold" for 1.5 hours for them to tell me there was a 'scheduling conflict'...no other explanation! Yet, we were to give them 24 hour notice IF we were to cancel or change!!

Our phone company won't credit us for all the 'down time' they've been providing us with, while they claim to be "providing" us with an internet connection!! :(

...what life would be like IF...

• Living in the agricultural world really meant you don't "work"!

Over the period of the past 6 days, we have had 'visitors' that are either on vacation or just out 'cruising'. We do enjoy having company, don't get me wrong. BUT...this way of life, there is always work to be done! Sitting around visiting with people for hours on end~ does NOT pay the bills! We don't have that luxury of paid days off or vacations. Over the years, a lot of the people we've known that have "real jobs" as they call them, have always thought of us as having the 'easy life'...not a JOB per se, just a hobby! We are supposed to have free time all the time! I seriously doubt that if we showed up at their homes as they begin their day, or even at their lunch hour, that'd they would 'cancel' their jobs for the rest of the day just for us & to just kick back & visit for hours! I am sorry people...but if you are not relying on agriculture for your livelihood, please, be respectful of those who do! You may work 8-5, come home & have the rest of the evening to do as you please....but we don't! Our days are generally long, long days...and we need to make our living as the oppourtunities, the hours & the weather permits! I have to tell you a story here..........years ago, we bought 10 bare acres of old hay ground. There was No water, No power, No fences, No home....we lived in wall tents, camping as we built fences, corrals, drilled a well, added septic tank and we built a small home by ourselves. Hubby shoed horses & started colts by daylight in order to pay for everything as we went along. Come evenings, we worked until dark & beyond...on our Little House on the Prairie. Summers weren't long, & winter's heavy snowfalls could come early any given year. We had to work hard & fast! Looky-loos came around every day, amazed(?) at what we were doing, living like we were with 2 teenagers! Gawkers from the distance, looked through binoculars. One Saturday morning, we had a lot to accomplish by Monday as the septic system was going to be put where our "camp" was. It was 8:00 am and already, I had made 4 pots of coffee for the onlookers. Hubby had had it!! It was raining & time was ticking by fast! He came to the 'campsite' & sternly stated... "If you are here to help, grab one of these **tossing hamers, shovels, etc., ever so angrily at the ground** and get to work! If you are NOT here to help? Get the H*** out of here!" Of the 16 people standing around drinking cup after cup of coffee...only ONE person stayed! He worked all day along side of us and we accomplished our mission for Mondays schedule! THEN, & ony then, were we able to sit back & enjoy Sunday as a day off! He is a great friend to this day! No one else came around again to just sit back and watch! They either pitched in with helping hands, or they lurked in the background behind binoculars & yes even telescopes! When we had an actual roof over our heads late Fall, they did come to see what we'd accomplished without their help.

...what life would be like IF...

• Families weren't strung out around the world do to the changing demands of careers but were close enough to have regular Sunday suppers at "Gramma's", family gathering for BBQ's, graduations, birthdays, holidays...as it used to be in an era gone by!

We live 4+ hours away from my folks & older Sister. Our daughter & her family are a hefty 24 hour drive away in So. Calif.! My younger Sister is in Minnesota (don't know how long of a drive??) My older Brother is in Montana; Hubby's Brother is 5+ hours away. And NOW...as of September 1st, our Son will be in Fargo, ND!! Today, he accepted the job with a Wind Farm Company to be their Development Manager...of 2 huge $500 million projects! He will be doing everything from land negotiations, to permitting, to community communication and education, responsible for portions of the P&L of the projects, working with State officials down to community officials. The first few months will be spent setting up the physical presence of the Company there in Moorhead with an office. Both sites are in Minn. across the border (N.D. has 'cheaper' state income tax than MN, so hence, he'll plant himself there.) He is soooo very excited for the huge challenge afore him! He has been stalemated at his current job & has waited for this opportunity! It's huge! It's in a very young, yet fast growing "industry"! We are truly excited & happy for him....yet that means he won't be driving home on a long weekend for some of Mom's home cooking (he always puts in his "order" before he comes over) or to raid my pantry of my garden's bounty. It means he won't be spending as many holidays with us, or he won't be able to come to help us build fence, cut firewood, etc, etc....ya know, all the things they HAD to help with when growing up & growled about, yet now, they WANT to help you with those things! I know my Sister & her family, in Minnesota, are finally going to have the opportunity to get to know him. He will no doubt be going to her house for Thanksgiving etc! It will only be a 4 hour drive for him! We are extremely proud of our kids! They both worked jobs to put themselves through college, as we could not afford to help them. Our Son has 2 BA degrees, has traveled the world as a civilian & as an Officer in the USMC (he is currently up for Major ~ IRR status (Inactive Reserve Ready)). Our Daughter is an elementary teacher, her hubby is a Principal & they both have their Masters. We don't begrudge the kids at all for their career choices & places their lives have taken them, we only wish society wasn't so "mobile" these days, so their careers could have kept them closer to their roots...and us!

...what life would be like IF...

• The "C" (cancer) word did not extist!

In the past 13 years, we have lost 37 close friends & family members. That is a huge number! 32 of them have been to that "C" word!

It has been confirmed, my Dad has cancer. Tomorrow, he is scheduled for a PET scan to determine his options; to what extent if any, has it spread; is it small cell or non-small cell; fast growing or slow growing.

I hate this disease!

We lost Cowboy's Dad 2 years ago to it. My Dad is an extremely positive person, and he told me last week that he still plans to live to at least 100 ! I hope he does!!

~The battle is on!

***************************************

...what life would be like IF...

• Blogging hadn't been discovered on my computer by this curious country gal!

I wouldn't have met all of you! !! And I so enjoy reading your blogs, about your lives, your interests & your humor!...........when my phone connection cooperates, when I don't have a 'virus' or a 'worm', and when Blogger doesn't hate me! Seems as of late...that's all I get ! I will get caught up with you!

2:50 a.m. Friday....later....GRRrrrrr...as I've tried tonight to track you all down & check up on you, easily, I got to 3 of you...and was able to get to your comments...then, for who knows what reason.........I could find your sites, but unable to load the comment section! I'm going to bed now and hope my luck changes tomorrow!!