The wrens have hatched their eggs in the mopbucket on the carport; I hear teeny cheeps of wee little wren-lets and see busy parents toting bugs to them. The parent birds seem indignant if I step outside. They fly to a nearby bush and scold me to get out of the way--so I do if at all possible. Since their nest is only two feet from my back door, we're all feeling territorial.

Yesterday evening I ruffled their feathers when I went out to do a load of laundry (my laundry room is in a room on the carport.) The water looked awfully orange. Oh Oh. A break in the water main somewhere, red clay soup was in the water. I phoned the prez of our water assn. Yep, someone with a bulldozer had dug up a tree and torn up the water lines. He was down in a hole repairing it, and said don't use the water for anything except toilet flushing until tomorrow.

Sometimes I feel like I'm in a third world country. Frequent water main breaches, power going off with every little bit of wind etc. Nearest place to even get a burger is a 20, 30, 40, or 50 mile round trip. But with water contamination I couldn't cook, (good excuse) so took the 50 mile trip to go to Pizza Hut. Two tables were pushed together--six little boys maybe seven or eight years old, in karate outfits, sat at one end, their mothers at the other end.

Oh Oh. It was Tuesday night buffet, Kids Eat Free! The place was crowded. The boys were happily eating and talking, innocent wee things who were too young yet to understand about earthquakes and typhoons and war and other terrible things that all too soon will influence their lives and the matrix of the world they inhabit.

One curly haired boy gave a thoughtful glance at a farmer, bent with age and arthritis, as he passed their table. So much to learn, so short the length of time to pass through the fire and be formed. I hope they enjoy every moment of their childhood and have good memories to sustain them. Susil

Comments:

Wow, 50 miles for a pizza and I complain when we go 15 to Wal-Mart. Meanwhile, screw childhood, that frustrating time when you aren't allowed to do anything and no one listens to you and you don't have any skills. I would just prefer to be 30 all of my life and keel over with my bod buff and my faculties intact. As for your country woes, just remember, you love the country. xx, T.

comment by tealstar on May 16, 2008 5:11 AM ()

Hi teal, I have this totally unrealistic hope that all those little
kidlets are having these Brady Bunch, Leave It To Beaver perfect
childhoods, when of course they aren't.
I keep hoping, even at my age that some kid out there is having a
great childhood because my was totally horrible, miserable and awful.
Oh Oh I'll stop complaining before I get branded as a "downer," LOL!

reply by susil on May 16, 2008 4:34 PM ()

What a beautiful word picture in your last paragraph! Thanks for sharing.

comment by jerms on May 14, 2008 10:59 AM ()

Thanks, jerms, glad you stopped by and hope you are doing well.
see you soon.

reply by susil on May 14, 2008 11:25 AM ()