In My Neck of the Woods

In my neck of the woods it is impolite to show your half eaten dinner to the public. Here is my apology.

In my neck of the woods, people knock on the side door.

In my neck of the woods, tips are handed out at Christmastime to the mail carrier, the trash pickup man, and the car wash guy who does the first hand-rinse.

In my neck of the woods, shots are often heard during hunting season and not at other times except for the sighting-in days just before the hunts begin.

In my neck of the woods, thoughtful people drive by homes on dirt roads slowly.

In my neck of the woods, going to town in jeans and boots and work clothes is perfectly acceptable.

In my neck of the woods, you know the first names of the owner, meat manager, dairy and grocery managers, produce, delicatessen, bakery people, and the checkers at the market. Most shoppers have a favorite checker.

In my neck of the woods, grocery carts are returned to the store front and not left in the parking lot. 

In my neck of the woods, pleasant greetings are given to both those we know and those we don't. 

In my neck of the woods you probably won't be knocked over by a strong whiff of expensive perfume in a market - I abhor Tabu. Flashy clothing and such tell that you don't live here - or just moved here.

In my neck of the woods, the firemen, post office and library employees, bank tellers,  police officers, road department, and courthouse staff are people we know either personally or by face and name. We know our doctors and our dentists and most of the hospital staff. We know the people who pump our gas, deliver our propane, and teach our children. We know who our artists are and what their art is like. We know our shopkeepers and business owners. We know how many churches we have in the close by area and what denominations and faiths are served.

I could continue, but I think you get the point. 

It all reminded me of words in a childhood nursery rhyme.

Remember The "Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker?" 

Well I obtained the following information from another blog I read several years ago and cannot now tell you where or who wrote it but I copied it down to remind me of the three kinds of people necessary to make changes in a society. Of course this is only one of many interpretations of the rhyme! I like this one.

"• The butcher is the person willing to take whatever action necessary, despite the implications or nature of the act, in order to cause or further change. 
• The baker is the person who takes what he has, despite how little or how much that may be, and uses it to support the others in the cause.
• The candlestick maker is the person who illuminates the darkened path leading to change, and who keeps a beacon of light constantly burning to light the way for others to follow."

Author unknown to me.

What is it like in your neck of the woods?