Hello!
So, you know, I've been thinking lately, what's so great about farming, really? It brings me back to this one funny incident from about 15 years ago, when I had an off farm career.
I had a demanding role that often required me to travel. On this particular occasion, I was scheduled for a week-long trip to Mexico, and Detroit Airport was the best option to get there. Now, anyone who's flown knows it involves early mornings, long drives, and border crossings. On this day, though, I was running late. About an hour into the drive, nature called, but I was in a rush. Missing the flight was not an option, and I didn't want to hear about it from my co-workers!
So, I pressed on, nervously inching through the border crossing. I probably seemed a bit panicky to the border agents, given the circumstances. As I sped down the Detroit freeway, there still wasn't a moment to spare. I pulled into the "Big Blue" parking garage at Detroit Metro, hoping against hope that I could make it to the restroom on time.
Now, without getting into the graphic details, let's just say I didn't make it to the restroom. That's when this story takes a humorous twist. I dashed into the parking garage elevator, keeping my back to the wall, as you do. And there, of all places, I bumped into Julie, a childhood classmate I hadn't seen in years. Talk about timing!
As we greeted each other and exchanged pleasantries, my inner turmoil was at its peak. I was hoping she wouldn't notice my distress. We chatted about her travels, and all the while, I'm thinking, "I really hope she can't tell what's happened here." You can imagine the internal chaos.
In the midst of this, I maintained my gentlemanly manners, insisting she exit the elevator first of course. Julie lives just a few kilometers away from us now, and I've chatted with her dad, who's also a farmer, from time to time. But we've never discussed this little elevator escapade. I can't help but wonder if she had any inkling!
Now, let's shift back to why this story has a place in my thoughts about farming. That experience in the parking garage was stressful, and it was driven by the relentless pace of a city job. Compared to that, the long hours and hard work on the farm, the early mornings and late nights, don't seem so bad. Why? Because, out here, I have a roll of toilet paper in my truck and on all the tractors. And when nature calls, I'm never far from a quiet bush or a discreet corner of a cornfield. It's these little conveniences that make farming life easier to love.
Farm life has its challenges, but at least I'm somewhat in control, and I don't have to worry about those urgent elevator moments anymore. Life on the farm, it's got its quirks, but it's a life I wouldn't trade for anything else. And that, my friend, is why I've grown to love farming even more over the years. 😄
Farmer Rod