Can’t teach an old dog new tricks? How about old tricks?
Well now I don’t really consider myself old, but I do try to educate myself of the old ways as much as I can. Some people may think I am crazy and don’t care at all about the things and thoughts that I surround myself with, but who knows. I used to think that I was born in the wrong century, but after some deep thought and prayer I feel that God wanted me here for some reason, so I must be grateful to be here.
I often fear a time that soon the almighty
dollar won’t be worth anymore than dirt.
But since I do have that fear I try to surround myself with the tools necessary
if that time comes. I try to learn about
ways to do things without modern conveniences-and in learning these ways I have
come to the realization that sometimes the old tricks are better than the
new. For instance- getting the “farm”
stains out of my husband’s work clothes.
I have tried everything I could afford (and some things I couldn’t
afford) to get the stains out. Guess
what works best? A bar of Fels Naptha
and some good ole elbow grease. I scrub
his jeans and shirts in the bathtub and then wash in the machine. I now long for a useable washboard… Well now I don’t really consider myself old, but I do try to educate myself of the old ways as much as I can. Some people may think I am crazy and don’t care at all about the things and thoughts that I surround myself with, but who knows. I used to think that I was born in the wrong century, but after some deep thought and prayer I feel that God wanted me here for some reason, so I must be grateful to be here.
I often think about what if the time comes when we can’t afford fuel for the car and truck/or it isn’t even available. I don’t know anything about horses, but I am sure I could learn. We are about 12 miles from a bigger town. In our tiny town there is only a school, church, gas station, construction supplier, and a struggling restaurant. I am sure that other shops would pop up if needed. We could get back to how it used to be. When communities were communities – not just a group of people that lived in the same area. Communities help each other.
What do you do when you need something but the money isn’t there? Borrow money? Steal? Do without? Has the term barter gotten that far lost in today’s society? I am open to the barter system most usually. When thinking about paying for services with goods I am reminded of an episode of Little House on the Prairie when the new doctor has taken over for Doc Baker- the new doc won’t accept chickens, hams, pies, etc – he will only accept money. Can you imagine if you tried to pay your doctor with a ham? A ham was worth a lot of money back then, and if you raise it your own and am depending on it for winter’s food – it is worth a lot of money. I can’t imagine having to choose between food for the winter or paying my bills – but sadly many people do in different aspects.
Do you have talents you could use for services? Maybe you build things, or sew things, or am a fantastic cook. Would you trade these talents for other products/services you need accomplished? I would. Many people are on a tight budget these days, have been so for years now. Money does grow on trees, and in the ground, and is all around you – if you change the way you look at money. I would do anything to help someone, and I don’t expect anything in return, but it is nice to get something in return. It is human nature to want to feel that your help is wanted. Paper money though can seem like charity – but a homemade pie or something else is just a nice gesture and can really help a family out.
Say there is a single dad across the street from you – you notice he is picking up the limbs out of your yard after a wind storm—you might think to pay him but an offer to watch his kids or making him dinner might be more appreciated.
It used to be common courtesy to bring supper over if someone was sick, or to take the kids if a stay at home mom was sick, or there is a new baby, or a loved one has died. People don’t do these things anymore-people need to. It helps bring communities together. You need to get to know your neighbors. You might think they are weird or rude – but have you ever talked to them, really.
