Chuck, Jim, Pumpkins, Squash, Gourds and A Mercedes Benz
Jackie has taken a job. She’s working ‘off farm’ so to speak.
One day she walked up the hill to the growing field and said, “I quit, thanks for the opportunity…but I have to take a run at corporate America again. We need the money. It’s a great gig…gotta go, I’ll miss you all…Rich, Corey, Rufus… all of you! Its very sad, but I have to go.”
So the farm hands; Rich, Corey and Rufus, at that moment gathering potatoes from the ground intended for sale the very next day, with astounded looks on their faces, said in unison, “OH – Do you mean now? Or after we finish digging potatoes?”
So, back to the first person, off I went. And yes, I am working off farm now. Another long story for another day.
But today, I longed for the old days….when we got up in the morning and put on long boots and tromped out into the rain or snow or sleet to feed chickens or weed flowers. It was sort of sad. Today was a rainy, cloudy, windy day. The best and worst kind of day on a farm. Worst in the sense that it is pure torture to get things done. Best in the sense that you realize, ‘Hey – this is the worst it gets here………..” not so bad.
So off to work I go today. Into the secret bedroom called an office where I clack away at the computer all day taking with my co workers. All of them clack away from their homes too. Again – long story…..Its ok.
Rufus barks his howling WuuuuuF-Wuuuuuuf- Wo-o-o-o-o-F which really means, “someone’s in our driveway.” Rich ignores it but I know I’ve invited someone over that would like to sell me some pumpkins and squash to take to market. A neighbor. He grows organically. His name is Jim. It was Chuck when we were first introduced, and now I am confused about the whole deal. Regardless, he offers some great pumpkins and squash for us to take to market. Every now and then, someone comes with something good and they don’t want to haul off to market. So if its good – we take it one and bring it to our customers.
Anyhoo. Where was I going??? Oh…..So I am supposed to be working and I have decided I am on a coffee break. Jim/Chuck and I head up to the shed to sort out the good from the bad in his offerings. Rich leaves to head to the bank so we can pay our feed bill before it heads to collection…..kidding – close though…..
At the shed Jim and I sort through what he’s got. A pick up truck full of organically grown stuff. What can I sell for him? I start sorting, counting, we talk about how we can all make it selling our good stuff…how we can get out of our jobs. We talk about why we’re working. Why we’re not just farmers???????? There must be a way to do it.......... We’re all so close.
I tell Jim/Chuck I am not so sure I need to work. I feel like I am just working for stuff.
“ I bet you’ve had stuff before haven’t you?” he says, sort of intuitively,knowingly……..”Yes, We both worked, had good jobs, got stuff, had stuff, we don’t need it anymore.”
All the while we’re sorting through the truck. Good pumpkin, bad pumpkin, 32 squash, etc…….. and I am looking at my imaginary watch. I am in a hurry….because of the job thing. I have to get back to it. So we end our conversation abruptly but promise to get back to it. Soon……
On a side note a quote..........."I'd like to do a song of great social and political import" Janis Joplin
