Today I had the opportunity to step back about 100 years in time as I covered a local threshing show. There were blacksmith, glass blowing and wool spinning demonstrations; and of course, threshing took place with old equipment that I cannot believe still operates.
I’m drawn to the era of the late 1800’s when Minnesota and the Dakotas were being settled by Swedish and Norwegian immigrants. It was a time when nothing was taken for granted and survival depended on a little luck and a lot of hard work.
I have this romantic notion (as I sit in my comfortable chair in my air conditioned house) that I would have done well in those pioneer days.
Five years into my marriage I tried my best to convince Darren to move the family to the bush of Alaska so I could live out my “early settlers” dream.
“Come one, let’s be adventerous, like the Wilderness Family!” I pleaded.
I think for a while he really considered doing it except that once you live in the bush of Alaska, it’s a long way to walk when your wife has a sudden craving for Starbucks.
And yet there’s a part of me that aches for the opportunity to leave the chaotic world of 21st century living and spend my time braiding rugs, training sled dogs, making candles and…well, milking cows and churning butter.
I want to know what it feels like to depend on myself for survial, not Walmart and Sam’s Club. I’d rather struggle to survive with the basic necessities of life than to have more than I can use and still struggle to be happy.
Those early settler days represent that philosophy to me.
Being at the threshing show today felt really good, like visiting Great-Grandma’s farm. It was certainly better than pulling up to a Starbucks drive-through window.
It also inspired me to continue my campaign:
I should have a dairy cow.
Tags: All In a Day's Work, It's My Life
August 10th, 2008 at 7:51 am
You would have done well if you lived during that era, so would your brother. Great article and Happy Birthday almost. Love Mom
August 10th, 2008 at 8:12 am
If you lived in Alaska, you would get a free check for oil, to make things easier.
August 10th, 2008 at 10:27 am
So that’s what he meant when Kevin said, “Mom… don’t have a cow!”
Actually, now that I’ve been to your property, I’m in full support of you having a cow. Especially if I can have some milk.
August 10th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Mom and Dad- Thank you. Without you both I wouldn’t have an almost birthday!
Bill- that may be true, but we’d have a hard time getting to the bank before it closed.
Jeff- Can I quote you on that?