Pinecones and Roses

Friday, November 4, 2011

"You Should Have to Live.......

.......in a big city for 5 years and then you folks would appreciate what you have here."

These words came back to me today as I drove along the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains. 

It was several years ago, I was working at the Episcopal Church and the words came from a doctor who was considering moving here and had stopped at the church to be properly welcomed.  I was the one who invited him and his wife to have a cup of coffee while I located the priest and I'm the one he said it to.  My face immediately flamed and all I could say was "We already do appreciate what we have".

Later when I was talking to the priest about his remark he said "Why did that bother you?"

"Because many of us have lived here all our lives and put up with low wages, inferior jobs, no chances to climb up the corporate ladder much less hit the glass ceiling, and our closest place to shop is 120 miles away which means that if you really want to buy anything you have to spend two nights and three days there.  And the reason we live here is because we love those beautiful mountains and desolate country.  That's why we're here."

He answered as any other 40 year old would at that time "Cool!"             Diane

4 comments:

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh Diane, I love this post---and I can 'feel' how much you love where you live. I grew up in the coal-mining mountainous area in Southwest Virginia... I loved it there. It was home. I got a good education. We were SAFE... Times have changed these days... What a shame.
Hugs
Betsy
Love the photo of your sweet mama...

mudderbear said...

What I remember about growing up is always about Star Valley, Wyoming, not much about Salt Lake. I love it there still, and it will always be home.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

ha! Cool is all he could come up with. I think it is great that you have chosen to live a simple life in God's country rather than running the rat race like everyone else is these days. There is something to be said for a peaceful, quiet life enjoying the beauty around you and having time to stop and smell the flowers along the way. So many folks miss out on that while they are trying to get ahead. Have a wonderful weekend. Tammy

Anonymous said...

Exactly. What you said, Diane. And it is so much worth it. :)
Hugs,
Zuzu