Lesson #7 - You Just Can’t Escape the Country

Country Lesson #7 – You Just Can’t Escape the Country –After almost two years, Josh and I are moving back to Louisville, but country living will always be a huge part of Josh and now, both fortunately and unfortunately, a huge part of me.   There are great job opportunities for us there and I’ll get to be closer to my family, friends, and my first niece in July.  There were many days that I could not wait for this day to happen; however, it is very bittersweet.  While Josh and I are going to live in the city of Louisville right now, we’re already looking for land outside of Louisville and builders in the area.  I love that Josh  is a country boy, although he didn’t love last week we he thought he was dressed fancy for work in his boots and Tractor Supply flannel shirt and two of his co-workers told him he looked like Larry the Cable Guy. J I’m more than a little nervous about Marigold’s transition into a city living and all of the noises, animals, smells, and people that come along with that; however, Mari, just like Josh, will forever have the country inside of her.  I am very thankful that I’ll never be able to escape it and look forward to owning my own smaller piece of the country, in the not quite so rural country, in the near future.  More will follow, as I’ll forever be figuring out the mix between the two.  Country Lesson #7 – You’ll never be the same once you have experienced country.  

Lesson #6 - Pitchers are LARGELY Outnumbered by Savers.

Country Lesson #6 - Pitchers are LARGELY outnumbered by savers.  There are alternate uses for everything.  I am and have always been a pitcher.  My twin sister and I used to go through the garage, refrigerator, and closets when my dad was gone and throw away everything that had no immediate use.  I hate clutter and I go through all my clothes and shoes on a regular basis to donate whatever I haven’t worn within the past year.  I don’t keep things for later.  This mindset is the exact opposite from the country mindset.  Josh’s dad has countless vehicles, lawnmowers, farm machinery, and tools that no longer work; however, he saves them in case he ever needs the functioning parts for something else.  He can manipulate any piece of equipment to make it work for whatever he needs.  This random mix of parts and supplies doesn’t allow for the most attractive tools, vehicles, or machinery, but it has saved them many times in the past.  People nearby have all kinds of extra material goods, both functioning and not functioning, around their yards and porches, so I can only imagine what the inside of their houses is like.  If you haven’t always had what you need, you hold on to what you do have for as long as possible.  Early on in our engagement, Josh and I couldn’t see eye to eye on this.  I didn’t understand why he needed 50+ cutoff work t-shirts and wanted him to get rid of some of them.  In the process of going through his t-shirts, I pitched his Carhartt work coveralls.  I’ve never seen panic like a farm boy who can’t find his coveralls.  He still brings up the fact that I made him get rid of some of his “good” cutoffs, as opposed to the 30+ cutoffs he still has.  I haven’t gotten much better, but I can acknowledge that I should at least consult Josh and think about short-term and long-term uses of things.  This has been a hard lesson to learn.  Country Lesson #6 – Maybe I’m not the best saver, but I’ll hopefully learn to hold on to material goods for a little longer than before.  Cleanliness is still necessary!