LOL! I told my friend back in Philadelphia when I ask him how he is, the answer is never just…fine. That’s not how Midwestern people roll. I need details! 😂
Growing up in the Midwest must be how I became the kind of person that tries to get grocery store clerks to laugh. It brightens up their day.
A few weeks ago I was walking in the neighborhood and a UPS driver was barely squeezing through what seemed like an impossible barricade. When he was done, I wiped my brow and mouthed "Whew!". He busted a gut laughing. I think that's Midwestern too, but it might just be that I'm weird.
LOL It’s a gracious display of humanity, and we need all the positive interaction we can get. Going up, I witnessed my grandmother constantly being polite, talking and smiling to people…all of my family did. You’re not weird… you’re just a good human!!!! 😃
Starting conversations is fun. I do this too especially in the grocery store nothing more universal than talking about food and grimacing at the price of steak 😂.
When the rhubarb comes I buy a bunch wash, chop and freeze it I have a good compote recipe delicious on yogurt with granola.
I live right across from a small strawberry farm as well can’t wait for the fresh local stuff.
The Trump supporters are something else aren’t they? My fucking brother in law showed me a picture of him with trumps head on his body that one of his friends did for him. I looked at it and said this is a joke right? Well no joke the idiot is neck deep. I looked at my wife and said I’m going to grab coffee let me know when you’re done here I’ll pick you up. She didn’t talk to me for 2 days after. In this case silence was golden 🙂.
HA! Your BIL-ugh. Why must we deal with family like that!?
As for rhubarb, I love it so much….we should really start it here at the farm. My great grandmother grew it which is how I understood how good it was! Love it slathered on a piece of toasted homemade bread…or the yogurt and granola sounds good, too! :)
Here in the Netherlands, one supermarket chain has a specific checkout line for people who would like to chat with the cashier. It's meant to address loneliness issues in the elderly, and this particular business decided to adapt their model to include it.
Glad to hear that you're back on the farm. You need some chill time. Mr. Nell is way too cute to be a bad ass. I bet Sable was happy to see you. Mowing? Yeah, I might know something about that.😂😂 Enjoy your working vacation.😃😘
I’ve read this a few times. First time for the story and then to figure out how you got me from a Dierberg’s checkout to your grandmother Nellie in Walmart to a three-legged cat at dusk without ever once feeling like I was being moved on purpose. That’s a particular kind of writing and you make it look easy.
The Tim and Tim moment — good Lord. That’s the thing about Midwestern and Southern farm people both: we’ll hand a stranger the worst thing that ever happened to us in a grocery aisle and then ask about rhubarb in the same breath. It isn’t oversharing. It’s a whole different theory of what a stranger is.
My wife and I went to see Fried Green Tomatoes on the big screen this weekend — they’re running it again — and I came out of that theater wanting Whistle Stop so badly it ached. I grew up in farm country in northeast Mississippi. I drove a tractor at twelve, before I ever drove a car. Herded cows. Fed the chickens. Hoed the garden and helped plant seedlings every spring with dirt packed under every fingernail. So when you say the farm is the only place that ever felt like home, I feel that in my hands before I feel it anywhere else.
And I also know I couldn’t go back. Not really. Not as the person I became. The neighbors with the signs in their yards wouldn’t love me either, and I would not be able to keep my big mouth shut the way you can.
So I’m grateful you go for both of us. Tell Sable I said hello, and please mow around the stump.
Love from Vegas (which is its own kind of somewhere), —G
Yes…we are a friendly group aren’t we?! A friend moved here from east coast and on our walks I would always smile and say hi to people we passed. She wondered why we always do that!
I live in New England (and have for 45 years!), but still am a midwestern country girl. I still start checkout line conversations, and get weird looks. I don’t care - what’s missing in the US now is having a community and not a barricaded fort of potential enemies.
Susan, this was my first read for the day 😉 and like the car dealer who used to end his commercial always said… “It’s so nice to be nice.” What a guy and successful too.
He’s right! I’d buy a used car from that man! 🤣 “You attract more flies with honey than vinegar”. Plus being nice is better for your blood pressure! 💙✌️
My midwestern friends are all nice people. My family all came from the Midwest but I was born in Portland Oregon and I live just south of there. I can be a little edgy and in this day and age, even more so. A good friend of mine was an Indiana farm boy before he moved out here. He has that midwestern “nice” thing going on. I really need to have him be my role model.
For all the frustrations I have here, the people really are well meaning for the most part. Conversations just “start” out of nowhere and the support for a neighbor is legendary. When someone dies, the covered dishes pile up in the kitchen…and it’s all delicious! When you visit someone in their home, my grandmother always told me to not go empty handed…and that isn’t a normal thing in Philadelphia. Nellie was a good role model! Thank you David!
I'm exhausted reading the first paragraph. Absolutely exhausted. 😊
LOL! I told my friend back in Philadelphia when I ask him how he is, the answer is never just…fine. That’s not how Midwestern people roll. I need details! 😂
Growing up in the Midwest must be how I became the kind of person that tries to get grocery store clerks to laugh. It brightens up their day.
A few weeks ago I was walking in the neighborhood and a UPS driver was barely squeezing through what seemed like an impossible barricade. When he was done, I wiped my brow and mouthed "Whew!". He busted a gut laughing. I think that's Midwestern too, but it might just be that I'm weird.
LOL It’s a gracious display of humanity, and we need all the positive interaction we can get. Going up, I witnessed my grandmother constantly being polite, talking and smiling to people…all of my family did. You’re not weird… you’re just a good human!!!! 😃
It’s fun, too. :-)
Glad you’re there safe and sound and with a loaded pantry!🩷
Welcome home! Waves from our farm in SE PA!
👋👋👋 Hi there! When I’m back in Philly, I need to find you! 💙💙
Yes! Definitely!
Starting conversations is fun. I do this too especially in the grocery store nothing more universal than talking about food and grimacing at the price of steak 😂.
When the rhubarb comes I buy a bunch wash, chop and freeze it I have a good compote recipe delicious on yogurt with granola.
I live right across from a small strawberry farm as well can’t wait for the fresh local stuff.
The Trump supporters are something else aren’t they? My fucking brother in law showed me a picture of him with trumps head on his body that one of his friends did for him. I looked at it and said this is a joke right? Well no joke the idiot is neck deep. I looked at my wife and said I’m going to grab coffee let me know when you’re done here I’ll pick you up. She didn’t talk to me for 2 days after. In this case silence was golden 🙂.
Rhubarb grows anywhere I think 🤔. When we were kids we’d eat it right out of the garden talk about an unsweetened treat 😂😂😂.
😳 Whoa! That’s a taste you’ll never forget! 🤣🤣
HA! Your BIL-ugh. Why must we deal with family like that!?
As for rhubarb, I love it so much….we should really start it here at the farm. My great grandmother grew it which is how I understood how good it was! Love it slathered on a piece of toasted homemade bread…or the yogurt and granola sounds good, too! :)
That's a nice looking tractor you have there! Please enjoy your home time.
Rhubarb? You gonna make rhubarb/ strawberry pie? Better make one for me!
You bet! And jam to slather on toast!!
My kids tease me with “mom will talk to anyone”. I can’t be annoyed because it’s true. 😂
What a lovely story! And the two Tims...wow.
Here in the Netherlands, one supermarket chain has a specific checkout line for people who would like to chat with the cashier. It's meant to address loneliness issues in the elderly, and this particular business decided to adapt their model to include it.
Glad to hear that you're back on the farm. You need some chill time. Mr. Nell is way too cute to be a bad ass. I bet Sable was happy to see you. Mowing? Yeah, I might know something about that.😂😂 Enjoy your working vacation.😃😘
I’ve read this a few times. First time for the story and then to figure out how you got me from a Dierberg’s checkout to your grandmother Nellie in Walmart to a three-legged cat at dusk without ever once feeling like I was being moved on purpose. That’s a particular kind of writing and you make it look easy.
The Tim and Tim moment — good Lord. That’s the thing about Midwestern and Southern farm people both: we’ll hand a stranger the worst thing that ever happened to us in a grocery aisle and then ask about rhubarb in the same breath. It isn’t oversharing. It’s a whole different theory of what a stranger is.
My wife and I went to see Fried Green Tomatoes on the big screen this weekend — they’re running it again — and I came out of that theater wanting Whistle Stop so badly it ached. I grew up in farm country in northeast Mississippi. I drove a tractor at twelve, before I ever drove a car. Herded cows. Fed the chickens. Hoed the garden and helped plant seedlings every spring with dirt packed under every fingernail. So when you say the farm is the only place that ever felt like home, I feel that in my hands before I feel it anywhere else.
And I also know I couldn’t go back. Not really. Not as the person I became. The neighbors with the signs in their yards wouldn’t love me either, and I would not be able to keep my big mouth shut the way you can.
So I’m grateful you go for both of us. Tell Sable I said hello, and please mow around the stump.
Love from Vegas (which is its own kind of somewhere), —G
Yes…we are a friendly group aren’t we?! A friend moved here from east coast and on our walks I would always smile and say hi to people we passed. She wondered why we always do that!
Kindness wins…..
We need more of it in America right now!
Anyway-Have a nice Tuesday!
I live in New England (and have for 45 years!), but still am a midwestern country girl. I still start checkout line conversations, and get weird looks. I don’t care - what’s missing in the US now is having a community and not a barricaded fort of potential enemies.
I totally agree. More conversations in the produce section, please! 😂
Susan, this was my first read for the day 😉 and like the car dealer who used to end his commercial always said… “It’s so nice to be nice.” What a guy and successful too.
He’s right! I’d buy a used car from that man! 🤣 “You attract more flies with honey than vinegar”. Plus being nice is better for your blood pressure! 💙✌️
My midwestern friends are all nice people. My family all came from the Midwest but I was born in Portland Oregon and I live just south of there. I can be a little edgy and in this day and age, even more so. A good friend of mine was an Indiana farm boy before he moved out here. He has that midwestern “nice” thing going on. I really need to have him be my role model.
For all the frustrations I have here, the people really are well meaning for the most part. Conversations just “start” out of nowhere and the support for a neighbor is legendary. When someone dies, the covered dishes pile up in the kitchen…and it’s all delicious! When you visit someone in their home, my grandmother always told me to not go empty handed…and that isn’t a normal thing in Philadelphia. Nellie was a good role model! Thank you David!
Your plants welcome you home🌱🌱🌱🌱
Funny you say that because yesterday, I started repotting a few houseplants. They were crying! HAHA!
They missed you 🌱