On Being the Daughter of Egg Farmers...

I am divided.
Since my parents are divorced, I am half the daughter of Video Engineering Specialists, and half the daughter of Egg Farmers & a Chemistry Professor.  This division is rather incongruous in many ways, as technology combines with nature and I am left somewhere in between.

For the next two days, I am the daughter of Egg Farmers.
Richard and I are staying with my mom, dad, sister, and all of their assorted creatures on their farm near Guthrie, Oklahoma. They have quite a collection of animals here: 1 horse, 2 parakeets, 3 goats, 4 ducklings, 5 dogs, 5 grown ducks, 5 guineas, 6 cats, 8 fish, 10 roosters, 76 hens, and countless toads, grasshoppers, spiders and more...

Most people would describe the country life as "charming," "quaint," "peaceful," "relaxing," "harmonious," and so on... I am not one of those people. Every time I come to visit, very different words come to mind. "Stinky." "Noisy." "Infested." I could go on, but you get the idea.  My idea of vacation is not staying in an old squeaky bed, waking up at 4am when the roosters (for no apparent reason) decide to start shouting about morning, which won't actually happen for 3 hours. I can't walk to the car because there are swarms of bugs. I have terrible allergies. There are cats and dogs that always seem determined to convince me they are starved for attention (even though they aren't).

I never could stand bugs, I never liked the show Green Acres, and country living is definitely not for me. Yet, these forays into rural America give me perspective. They remind me of who I am as an individual, not as a member of my family, but a being with my own opinions, preferences, and freedoms.


They make me thankful for the modern conveniences and liberties I am afforded; for following my own path, high-speed internet, paved roads, good suspension on my beautiful car, and sidewalks.  I am reminded of where we all came from, and how far we have come.

I am grateful for those people who enjoy country living, as they make my crockpot BBQ chicken and pork roasts possible, but I am mindful of my blessings, namely: not having to live on a farm.  I don't think this makes me less the daughter of an Egg Farmer/Chemistry Professor, just more mindful of the paths that we have chosen in life and the divergences each person must take along the road of life.

Also, the biscuits and boiled eggs for breakfast every morning are kinda great...