i grew up in oklahoma in a town of 45,000. but i was a city girl at heart. i wasn't much for the cowboys that seemed to come in abundance. and i denied the idea that we were in the south. my mom and i would take frequent shopping trips to "the city" and yes, that's what we called it...and i would love to buy things at the trendy stores...i had no interest in horses, country music, having land...and i didn't understand "small town charm". and even when i first moved away from oklahoma, i was a little embarrassed to say where we were from...
but now i see that there is beauty in simple living, of growing your own food, having your own chickens to get your eggs...and i actually crave that life. i would love to own some land here in oregon. grow our own vegetables...and heaven forbid, maybe even have a cow.
i think maybe oregon has taught that to me. i drive out in the country and i am amazed. i can't imagine what it would be like to be a farmer here. it would be so much fun.
city life is wonderful. i love the culture. i love what it brings...but i have found and respected that thing called country living. and i hope i can bring some of that into my life...the life i wouldn't take part in as a child. it's still part of my heritage and i'm starting to embrace it.
i think i use to think you were cool if you lived in a big city...and now i'm realizing that is not the case. sure, there are some darn cool people in portland, i could only dream of being that cool. but i'm not so sure the city is what makes them cool.
country living for the first time in my life, is starting to appeal to me. i think i finally understand why travis loves the wheat fields of oklahoma and has such wonderful memories of helping his papa on the farm.
i just read lacie's blog on intentional community living and my heart leaped with joy...growing crops together, living on a big piece of land with a group of people and having our own garden and farm...what beauty!
"...She lifts her skirt up to her knees
Walks through the garden rows with her bare feet, laughing..." [ray lamontagne]
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
I'm with Travis! I'm happy that you're beginning to see a beauty in the country. I say that my veins bleed mud...a country girl at heart. Always. (though I have no desire to be back in Oklahoma.)
I have been feeling the same way Kobie! I think it comes from spending a lot of time and money on making money and sacrificing time. Also working with computers for my job at the end of the day I don't have anything tangible that I feel proud of having worked hard to accomplish.
Great blog Kobie. I've been thinking a lot about this stuff too. Have you read any of Wendell Berry's (nonfiction) books? He talks a lot about the rural/urban dichotomy, growing your own food, and community life. Trust me, you'd love 'em. Our church here in Rochester just started our own community garden on the church property. I love it! It's such a neat process. It's something that can be taken for granted rather easily living in a city. We forget that city life is impossible without the natural, sacred work done by those around us. Take care!
i've read one of his books, but i need to read more of his stuff...i really is cool!
and so awesome about your community garden...i want to find around our neighborhood!!
I live in a farmhouse in the city and it feels like a wonderful place for me. I get to hang my sheets on clothesline between two big trees, plant and maintain a community garden in my backyard with friends and bike into the city (Mpls). Truly the best of both worlds.
It seems like more and more people are yearning for and finding ways to connect with "home grown" ways. Cheers to your discovery.
Shelley
Post a Comment