Is that the story where one of them drowns in a bucket of cream and the other makes butter and escapes, or something? Or is that a different mouse parable altogether? Whatever it is, it's also the beta title for the blog I'm convincing Agronomist Paige (of the Ecuador trip, not to be confused with Aljazeera Paige of the Bangkok trip) to write with me.
Paige is an agronomist, which is like being a farmer except it's so much more. Also, it translates into Spanish better so the Ecuadorians we met could understand that Paige is into growing food, and not actually a peasant. She grows healthy food of the plant and animal variety in upstate New York and I especially recommend the carrots. Paige is one of the few young people I know to have some shit really figured out, like what she loves and what she is good at. She didn't learn it in a classroom or have it handed down to her by her parents. She followed her interests, tried things, and found a calling. Wow, do I envy that. So she is the country mouse.
I'm about to move to New York City. I have no job (yet!) and there's no particular opportunity or dream I'm chasing. I've always had a deep ambivalence about New York. I reject the idea that "The City" is the only city worth living in, or that it's somehow the A-Team American city (except for weather! they will never claim superior weather!). But I'm also drawn to the energy, the constant activity and the prospect of running into Conan O'Brien. I used to have a fair amount of trepidation about the A-Team aspect - would I just feel not cool enough all the time? Would my suburban roots belie my hipster affectations? Of course! But I don't care anymore. Everyone will be cooler, prettier and more interesting than me. Except actually I am more interesting. Fuck it. So I'm the city mouse.
What do we have to learn from each other? I plan to join Zip-Car, drive to Essex, NY and find out, hopefully in time for the Harvest. Which is in October-ish? Earlier? When do the lambs get slaughtered? I'll just come before then.
3 comments:
oh you're too kind. today i feel like all i have figured out is how to give myself tendonitis in my wrist from double-digging one acre of veggie beds, and how to end up with poison parsnip (a noxious photo-toxic plant that is proliferating in the NE presumably due to climate change) welts all over my legs. you're right, though, i definitely didn't learn this from my mama. what i did learn from her, during her visit last week, was a sweet technique of weeding while reclining. i mean, seriously. it's awesome, if you like lying on your side in the dirt all day.
also, i'm out to harvest salad greens in T-30, after I build fence for the lamuels. why wait until october!? come quick!
xo
-ratonita del campo
Al Jazeera Paige of the Bangkok Trip-- excellent!!
Perfect name to hang on a parchment over me stone castle. Perhaps with a LADY prefix?? LADY Al Jazeera Paige of the Bangkok Trip. Or maybe ustaza...
I wish I had as much figured out as my namesake Paige but hey. here's to working on it.
Girls,
This has ll the makings of a TV reality show, a line of clothing, a sarcastic/ironic children's book or tween novel.....the joint blog is rich in possibilities.
The modern Stuart Little Squared!
Mom and Betsy
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