Angelwatcher: Times Past

I have to admit these afternoon thunderstorms, bring life to a hault around these parts. Lights and TV and everything goes out

. Thats when you bring out the games and we play board games or cards. Of course we could save on money and just shower while we're at it. No one would see us. Hmmm

. I'll have to think on that a bit more.

I went to the store with my Mother In-Law; and got a bit of a history about these neck of the woods.

I love to listen to her and hear about her days as a young girl growing up. Not all her stories are "funny or happy"; but they mean allot to her and for that I am so blessed to get to hear. I think I know about every piece of land out here and how most of her family and my Father In-Law's land was either taken or split. Now if you think for one minute I can recall it all; I suggest you sit down and have that thought again. Cause it ain't happening. I was surprised to learn of some of the things that she dealt with as a young girl, are in fact some of the same for today. They just handled the outcomes a bit differently. But there were "love stories"

to be told and the sneaking out at night to meet with friends. But there was allot of walking and getting to places in a horse and carriage. There were no cars, no fancy bikes; on no it was you and your feet or your horse. They went to church in a wagon and would sit outside under the window to hear the sermon. There were allot of potlucks after church; mainly because people came so far. And school was for learning and if you got a "whipping" at school; well you had another one waiting at home for you. And back then you could trust Teacher's to be honest. Not only that but they even at times went to the same church as your family did. And when Dales' aunts were born; his Grandmother was in her 50's and it was a huge deal to have twins.

You were the talk of the town. Not to forget to mention you were the one people wanted to see. Through my Mother in-laws eyes it was easy to imagine. The roads around her have not changed allot in of themselves. Instead of "horse and buggy" riding over them; you now have vehicles. And you can always tell the adults from the kids. The adults "saunter"

and the kids try to see how fast they can "kill" a tire.

I love the word saunter. It brings to mind walks along the tree lined roads; or a walk through the woods with a straw hat in hand. The word itself depicts long summer days; with the smell of fresh rain on the horizon. It conjures up the picking of berries and looking for frogs. Of dogs running and playing tag with one another. It also gives me pictures of walking around the square in town. And we have some really cool ones. We even have weddings on the square. The people here are in no hurry to stop talking (my kind of folks)

; even people you need to call to get something fixed; will share a bit about themselves. And the grocery stores are not in a hurry to check you out. In some ways I really miss Austin and the "hurry up" attitude. But for me right now this will do just fine

My meneers

has been acting up lately. In fact I have had this latest attack since Wednesday. But I am getting better. If I were to opt for surgery I could very well loose my hearing. Not that it is all that great. But I do need what little I have. The Doctor feels that by the end of the weekend I will be totally fine. We think I triggered it by coming off of a medication that I had been on for over 10yrs. I promised myself that once I got out here I would come off of the medication. I just was not aware of the "side"

effects associated with this. But it has been easier to do here. So now I get to ponder things I want to write about; while I meander through the pasture; and saunter by the ponds. Pretty good huh?? Well I need to go and turn in for the night.