Tonight I was in our building's laundry room, washing some towels, and I saw the superintendent. As happens with most people these days, we started talking about our imminent move. Finally, he said, "Don't people LEAVE there to come here? Can't be that great." And with that, he left.
As he walked out, I said, mostly to myself, "Those streets of gold they promised us? I haven't seen any up here in twenty years." Like the superintendent, most people who live in the city don't seem to find those streets of gold, either.
A young man was pulling clothes out of the dryer and said, "I'm from the east coast. Prince Edward Island. I'm here to work ... and I wish I were back home. I've only been here a little while and the things I've seen, I couldn't believe some of them. People just aren't nice here."
I nodded and said, "The thing I remember most about moving to the city was learning not to look people in the eye and say hello when walking on the street."
The young man said, "And the people talking to themselves, and living on the streets! Wow. Not that I'm about to do it, but if you fell asleep on the side of the street here, I'm sure you'd be robbed blind. Down home, though, you fall asleep on the side of the road, you're going to wake up with a blanket on you and a cup of coffee beside you."
That's one reason we're moving to the homestead. I've been here long enough that I've forgotten how shocking street people and random violence can be. The streets of gold never existed, but there's a certain paradise in being where everyone knows your name and neighbours (defined by anyone within the community) look out for each other.
Actually the streets of gold do exist, just not in the cities. People forget that the worth of a man (or a lady) is not by the assets he accrues but by the legacy he leaves behind.
ReplyDeleteI find a complement about the behavior of my children means a thousand times more than when someone tells me I have nice truck; unfortunately I find that isn't common anymore. Where I live there are families that have a home they own in disrepair and kids barely clothed and fed who act no better than savages yet mom and dad have nice clothes and new vehicles. Does that not show the priorities they have? What they feel is of value?
Where I'm working now there is a remote camp with lots of people in it (about 1000 in a single building), you can walk down the hall and every says hi or good morning. It's kind of nice but it's artificial; I see how those same people conspire and act towards each other when it's not public. Civility is a thin veil they use to disguise the ugly truth about themselves.
Of course, you're right - saying hello on the street is no good if it's not accompanied by caring and consideration.
ReplyDeleteEverything Mr D and I do is for these amazing little kids of ours ... even if they sometimes are naked savages. :D
Thoreau said "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." Sounds like you're spot on!
ReplyDeleteNaked is right, I have one who is a nightmare to convince to put on clothing and he's the same one who stomps around the house roaring and pretending to be a T-rex.
ReplyDeleteDoes he come running out naked when you have company? Ours does!
ReplyDeleteNot since the weather turned cold. Though he has a tendency to ask guests if they will be carrion. If they say yes he bites them.
ReplyDeleteLOL
ReplyDeleteI'm with you- can't beat country folks.
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