I loved living in the city where life is fast paced and convenient. But there were times when I wished I had slowed things down a bit just to appreciate my neighbors and my surroundings. In our busy lives of kids, work, church and social obligations; few of us take the time to truly get to know the people who live only steps away from us; inquiring about their family, their interests or maybe even to deliver a baked good. Sometimes the only conversation from one house to another is a wave and a quick hello. I’ll admit it, I’ve taken for granted those neighbors that are here today and gone tomorrow. Why was I so busy that I didn’t take the time to walk next door and invite them to dinner?
When Cowboy and I first moved out to Pidcoke, we were sitting on the front porch, looking at our newly acquired piece of debt (haha). I said to Cowboy “this is the perfect place to slow things down and make memories”. “I can’t wait to meet our neighbors”! And then he started telling me about them. Who lives where, what their names were and how many cows they have. Wait… he knows how many cows they have?
Ok, I may be new at this country living thing, but, people meet for the first time and talk about cows? What about kids, grandkids or dogs? And then I remembered a conversation I was having with a client. She had mentioned that she lived on a ranch; I asked her if she had cattle (Cowboy would be proud of me for asking that question, I’m a quick learner), she said yes. I told her how I loved to watch the baby cows play. She then asked me what kind of cattle we were raising? Ummm, I said “brown and white” ones and sometimes we have black cows. We looked at each other and both laughed!
Note to self: ask Cowboy what kind of cows we have. You would have thought he would have mentioned that minor detail OR maybe he did and I wasn’t listening. This is how I used to think about farm animals: a sheep is a goat, a goat is a lamb because I honestly could not tell the difference until Cowboy schooled me on them. (no pop quizzes, please) Apparently a cow is NOT a cow… it helps if you know their breed.
Back to the story –
After Cowboy finished telling me about our neighbors I asked him “How do you already know so much about them”?
COWBOY: I went by the other day and introduced myself to some of them while you were gone. (Oh Cowboy…acting so neighborly)
ME: Where was I and how many cows do they have? (yep, I’m getting the hang of this)
COWBOY: If I were guessing, you were probably shopping and do you really want to know about their cattle?
ME: Not really and no need for sarcasm Cowboy. Let’s try to have this conversation without it, ok?
COWBOY: Alright then (chuckling AGAIN). They want to meet you, why don’t you go and introduce yourself?
ME: I can do that? I can just go to their house without calling first?
COWBOY: Yes, what do you think will happen, that they’ll shoot you?
ME: Yes, that thought did cross my mind. But, I’ll go and invite them to dinner! I might even try a new recipe!
COWBOY: Slow down cowgirl. We have to live amongst these neighbors for a long time. Let’s just stick to 1 of the 7 things that you cook really well.
ME: Oh, you are the funny one aren’t you?
(Muttering to myself) I WILL meet our neighbors and I WILL deliver baked goods to them!
Check back next Sunday for Part 2!
