Did I Tell You About the Time...

Did I tell you about the time the Engineer thought turkey buzzards were chickens? Yep. It's been many moons ago but he did. See, he's not from around these parts. He's a Newfie. They don't have a lot of farms in Newfoundland. I suppose that's because it's really just a giant rock sticking up out of the ocean. Hard to grow much on a rock. So instead, they fish. Oh, and cut down trees. Seems pine trees can grow just fine up there through the crevices in the rocks. (If you've never been to Newfoundland I suggest you go, it's one of the most beautiful places on earth.)

Anyhoo, when we met he was living in the city and hadn't had much farming experience. Sure he was in Indiana, but the cities in Indiana are a lot like cities anywhere. Full of concrete and shiny glass buildings. One fine day I decided it was high time to leave the big city and venture out to my parents house. (Who you may recall are real farmers.) My kids were about age 11 and 6 at the time and riding in the backseat when we passed a cornfield with a handful of turkey buzzards scattered about. He looked straight at them and said "Oh look, chickens!" I was afraid the kids were going to pee their pants they were laughing so hard. They've never let him forget it.

So anyway if you are a frequent visitor here you know he's come a long, long way since then. But he still has his moments. Like last night when he insisted he needs a $10,000 tractor to mow 1 1/2 acres. I had to try to politely explain that the real farmers would laugh at him if he were spotted driving one of those things around the yard. Yes, 1 1/2 acres would be a HUGE yard in Newfoundland, but in the rural Midwest...not so much.

It's always an adventure. Oh, the stories I could tell. Remind me to tell you about the time he left me at a party in Newfoundland and I couldn't understand a word anyone was saying. Or the time he fell into the creek the day he met my parents. Or many, many other cultural misunderstandings.

I love you , Dear! You amuse me. But I think you can live without a $10,000 tractor. Nice try though.