The Amerian Way

I went for a ride with my visiting friend, Scott, this afternoon down a country road not far from home.

We drove to the end where we found a study in contrasts and he snapped two photos.

“Out with the old and in with the new,” I thought.  And then I thought again about the interesting comparisons on a working farm.

There is the old rusty truck.  Somehow I think it will still start up and still haul things, but it may be on the verge of settling into the weeds and soon into the soil.

Beyond the truck is a newer vehicle and a new barn or storage structure – obviously built to meet new challenges.

And there they stand together in a study of contrasts – old versus new.

But that was not all.

Beyond the new barn is the old barn, surely crumbling and ready to fall.  And as I look closely, there is another modern vehicle behind, and inside there is some equipment too.

“This is the original American way,” I thought and “still working.”  These are the small farmers  who carefully save  (not only money but farm tools, equipment and structures), and hone all to greatest capacity to assure success.

Oddly enough, all these contrasts in one little area at the end of a road made me feel proud to be an American.

And though I didn’t voice this feeling to my friend, I think Scott felt it too.

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