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funny
adj
1. affording light mirth and laughter; amusing; seeking or intended to amuse; facetious
2. differing from the ordinary in a suspicious, perplexing, quaint, or eccentric way; peculiar
Courtesy musings from my watering can.
I had several different experiences with people over the past few days, and I’ll let you draw your own conclusions as to what kind of funny they are. Note that funny #2 encompasses a wide variety of options.
Since I moved here, I have been faced with an ongoing problem that I have tried to ignore, but eventually was unable to ignore any longer. I don’t want to go into the specific details of the problem, but it involved my property rights and the access roads on my farm. I am a believer in defending all comers against property rights. There was also some (minor) illegal activity involved. Not to mention some nuisance. This past week, I determined that it was time to address the problem head-on.
The result was that the offending party came to my front door, cussed me out, and told me they had no intention of doing what I had asked them to do to rectify the situation–then stomped off.
I was still shaking from the aggressiveness of the verbal assault when Adam showed up to work on my milking parlor. I told him what was going on and he said, “You need a man on the place.”
I said, “I DON’T NEED A MAN! OR WANT ONE!”
Adam said, “I don’t mean to offend you. I’m just trying to help you. People wouldn’t come to your door like that if you had a man here.”
The hired men who work on my farm without fail think I need a man on the place. And it’s true, they are just trying to help, but that’s not the answer. They’re quaint and sweet and just worried about me. Because I’m a woman running a farm by myself. They are one kind of funny.
Then there are the people who try to take advantage of me. Because I’m a woman running a farm by myself. A totally different kind of funny.
Then there is the ‘hood. At Stringtown Rising, the ‘hood was comprised of the handful of people who lived around the river ford. Here, the ‘hood is the handful of people who live at the end of this road. A small rural ‘hood has a dynamic all its own. Knowing how to live within the ‘hood is critical to an everyday sense of safety and support. People in the ‘hood depend on each other, provide for each other, and have certain expectations from each other. The people who live down the access roads on my farm, despite also being at the end of this road, are not part of the ‘hood. By their own choice, they reject the ‘hood, separate themselves, pass through without ever knowing the satisfaction of being part of a rural micro-community. What I like best about the ‘hood is they don’t see me as a woman running a farm by myself. They just see me as a valid, contributing member of their community, and their support helps me remember to stand on my own two feet as a person not a woman. A person who can solve my own problems.
I called the sheriff. The sheriff dispatched a deputy. And the problem was promptly resolved to my satisfaction–everything from the illegal activity and the property rights encroachment to the aggressive behavior. There’s nothing like a badge to ramp things way down. I love law enforcement. And I love showing men that I can’t be intimidated by a cowardly verbal assault.
It’s about time.
I went to the little store in town yesterday for some t-posts. Adam is going to work on my field across the road later this week to get it ready for the horses. He walked the field to see what needed done. To repair and reinforce the fencing, he said I might need to lay in seven or eight t-posts, but ten would be better, just in case. I told the young man who was doing the loading that I needed ten t-posts. He said he had another customer ahead of me getting t-posts and he wasn’t sure he’d have ten left. I turned around and there was a (I must say) very good-looking man about my age standing there. He said, “I’m just staking tomatoes. If you need the t-posts, you can have them.” I told him to get his first and I’d take what was left. I went to the back to count the t-posts. He followed me. The young man followed everybody. The cute man kept insisting I should take the t-posts first. I told him that I probably did not really need ten and it was really okay and he could take what he needed for his tomatoes, and with some struggle, I left with nine t-posts.
And that there is yet another kind of funny. For all the “bad” people in the world, there are always the ones who will try to give you the t-post off their back.
People are just funny that way.
Posted by Suzanne McMinn on June 11, 2012
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1:56
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I have to disagree with Adam’s comment; obnoxious neighbors will get in your face regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman.
And, yes, every time I’m just about to give up on people, somebody does something amazing!
2:17
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Congrats on enlisting the sheriff. You gave them an opportunity to settle dispute quietly, they chose to decline your offer. It’s now very clear what your expectations are vis a vis your property. BTW, I knew one self-sufficient Arkansas farm woman, who enforced her property rights by casually carrying a shotgun! (But then, she had a still at the back of her property!)
2:52
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5:24
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Your t-post tale just proves that for every awkward, nasty person there’s a whole lot more good ones on this earth.
5:31
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6:37
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And regarding Mr. Handsome, noticing means you’re not dead. No harm in that! I look all the time!
6:42
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I assume Coco will bark if anyone were to visit down by the barn in the middle of the night? Do you have an all-night bright area light on down there just in case?
Places like Costco often have nice deals on surveillance camera packages. As your farm gains exposure (which you want for the good of the business) it will attract more than horse flies unfortunately. A camera setup (if certain aspects are visible) can be a deterrent, but is also useful for justice if needed.
A good dog and a camera setup are more useful than a man — except for routine vehicle maintenance.
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8:28
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That “woman” thing bothers me. I’m married and get that if my husband is too busy to take care of what ever it is needs done and I do it so that it does get done.
I think you are doing a wonderful job on your farm!!! If I lived by you I think I would love being your neighbor.
The other lady did have a good idea about the security cameras. I would put them on the front of the house as well as on your studio as well. If you are going have people there for classes and stuff then its in your best interest to have something to keep track of who might be coming and going on your property. Its a good investment.
What is not to like when a nice looking man is nice to you at the store. Just shows that not everyone is a jerk and sometimes people can be very kind. We all need that from time to time and we need to be nice to others as well when they least expect it. One never knows what is going on in a persons life that day and might been a kind word or two.
8:29
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Oh, and if they show up again, answer the door with a gun in your hand. You know, because you were right in the middle of cleaning it when they interrupted you.
8:34
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8:34
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I’ve never been afraid to call in the law when what I can do doesn’t work. And I have a husband! Some people just won’t respect you no matter what. I’m glad you got it resolved peacefully.
There’s such a bonus to being a woman. You can carry things if you want/need to do so. Or you can “need” help from a man if you just don’t want to get your shirt dirty doing something. It’s alright for us to be weak. The extra bonus is it lets the man helping us feel like He-man for helping the poor woman. He feels great, we keep our clothes clean, it’s a win-win.
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Please be sure to spend the extra couple of dollars for plastic tops for the t-posts if you will be using them in horse fencing. Well worth it to keep them from getting badly cut on those post tops. With horses the extra precautions are always worth while. Afterall, as the saying goes, a horse is an animal looking for the most expensive (and heartbreaking) way to die…….
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12:55
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You’ll be okay – you don’t NEED anybody and when you WANT someone, you’ll be ready.
2:56
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we live in a medium size town in canada and gas prices fluctuate – my large (6’5) son normally pumps the gas for me as I am disabled and use a cane and he only has a learners permit. twice this summer women have gone after him because we didn’t pullup to the farthest pump and give them the one we were trying to use as they cussed him out – they were completely overlooking the fact that the pump they wanted us to use was not selling car gas but marine gas or diesel – he calmly and quietly informed them (after they screeched) that the pump they wanted us to use was not doable and they quietly got back in their cars and waited but – yesterday he was not with me another older lady was and the gas was on for such a low price for only a couple of hours that I really needed to take advantage as I needed almost a whole tank – we had a little trouble with the pay at the pump thing and while we could hear a guy in the line beside us cursing someone out in 4 letter words the fellow behind me approached and politely asked if we needed some help – as we had it by then we smiled and thanked him and were very relieved that ours was the polite one.
so sad that we have to suffer the rotten ones to appreciate the good ones but so grateful that those nice ones are out there too. (also proud that my son is shaping up to be one of the nice ones)
hope you have a better day today
oh, by the way, I did hear of something rather clever that I laughed about at the time but now I wonder – a lady living alone far out of town left a chair on the porch with an old pair of VERY large workboots beside it – a note on the chair informed one and all that – George – be right back – I put Killer in the house so you better wait outside so I don’t have to clean the blood up again. hmmmm
6:22
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Suzanne, maybe that handsome gentleman at the hardware store could use some help with his gardening from an attractive farmer. If he lives around there maybe you could invite him over to see your garden and show him how to stake tomatoes.
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8:06
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Can’t wait ’til Saturday to meet you in person!
10:38
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I need to use a ride-on electric cart to do my grocery shopping, and every time, some stranger will offer to reach something for me or to help take stuff out of my cart at the check-out stand, so I get a reminder that nice, decent, helpful people are all around us. Sometimes I have to ask for help in reaching something, and without exception, I’ve been treated with kindness and friendliness. I’d prefer to be able to do for myself, but the up side is that I get to be reminded that most people are nice.
9:39
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A man on the place is a symbol of authority with the power and will to back up their decisions. You did well in the situation, used your power and will to back up your decisions. You were your own man on the place and I applaud you for it.
I used to hate it when I had to say, ” you’ll have to talk to my husband” or get my stronger husband to move or do something. Now, after many years, I realize that I am using all my resources when I get my husband to move something I cannot. Frankly, I think you are kicking it up there in WV.