A lot of folks listen to audio books when they travel, or play on their phones or computers, if they aren’t the driver. They don’t know what they’re missing. These are probably the same people who walk down a sidewalk, or through the mall, while looking at their phones. Despite all the warnings to be aware of your surroundings at all times, the habit persists. If parents want their children to be safe from human trafficking, or an active shooter, the first lesson should be never to let your device distract you while in public. The trouble is, most adults haven’t learned this either.
I don’t listen to audio books in the car, or even have the radio on very much. There’s too much to see, even if you’re driving the same old route to work. The other day, on my way out of town I noticed a group of kids and a couple of dogs frolicking on a street corner. Nobody was paying any attention to the passing cars, and I slowed way down in case some of the younger ones, or even a dog, might step out into the street. Luckily, no one did, but you just never know.
On that same trip, I saw a weasel pop up in an auto gate, and back down to hide out. Weasels are scarcely ever seen around here, unless in someone’s chicken coop. Last week, a possum crossed the county road ahead of me. Haven’t seen one in this neighborhood for years. My brother-in-law encountered two badgers on his way to visit us. We hope they stay scarce. I once had a dog that thought she could whip a badger. That didn’t end well for the dog. Most times we see deer or antelope somewhere along the road, or in the middle of it. They called me the deer slayer down at the body shop for quite a while.
Our long cold spring put all the crops behind, but lately the corn has jumped way past knee high. The hay crop will be short this year, but I’m always looking at a field of bales and trying to gauge how the crop differs from last season. Pastures are short too, and it’s likely that a lot of ranchers will wean and sell earlier than usual. We keep our fingers crossed that the market will hold up till fall. In spite of those worries, it does my heart good to see the cattle looking sleek and fat. Once a rancher, always a rancher, no matter how long you’ve been retired.
We had marvelous rains last week and the evergreens in the shelter belts by our county road are again green. It had been so long without moisture that they were gray with dust from the traffic. I’m always amazed how even a little rain will green things up more than any amount of irrigation or lawn sprinklers.
Pay attention out there on the road. For safety’s sake, of course, but also because there’s so much of the real world you miss when you don’t.
Meet me here next week and meanwhile, do your best. Somebody might like it.