Monday, 01 June 2009

• Feelin' Uneasy

  Have you noticed that people seem to be uneasy?  It's more than just the "economy".  It's a restlessness that goes deeper than keeping a job.

  Here, jobs are scarce, of course.  Since my husband's job is not based on housing or automotive manufacturing, he is gainfully employed (not so for my brother or many others, though).  The milk route is very solid right now.  I can say that with relief for the first time in a couple of years.  For awhile, I really was beginning to wonder.  Most of the local Amish could not pass up the $25/hr. wage (netting $1,000/wk) from the housing & RV factories, so to commit to a twice daily schedule of milking was just not worth it.  The jobs are gone now.  The Bishops are bending their rules for government non-involvement, allowing for drawing unemployment from the state.  Now, as one of our producers stated, "looking for a job in this market is like going out into the field and just digging a hole." This is forcing a return to carpentry work, farming, and just about anything else that brings in a little income.  Returning to farming means milking.  Milking means they need a hauler.  Brian & Joe do the hauling.  A couple a years ago, Joe was seriously thinking about finishing his schooling with his GED and maybe even going on to more training (not that his Dad was happy about it, though). Now that the route is gaining, he has backed off.  Anyway, this is only one part of the local picture.

  I stopped to see our friend, Nan for a few minutes today.  Her son works down in Virginia near a major Navy base.  He told his mother that the front page news story was an article on survival, that people are flocking to the stores buying up camping gear, ready-to-eat food and water.  Chris commented this seems to be an issue on both coasts, but has been ignored in the middle of the country.  Nancy was talking about how vulnerable we all truly are.  That our country could easily become disabled if our electricity grid failed (for whatever reason).  This is something we don't like to think about, but we should.  We should all have extra reserves set aside just in case.

  There also seems to be many different rumbles on various fronts, things that have to do with politics, or social issues or whatever.  Things like North Korean activities, Obama's plans and announcements, everyday problems that we all deal with individually, but somehow seem bigger and more threatening than before.  I just recently read an article about an informal survey:  50 people were asked their opinion about how the laws were changing in favor of homosexuality.  About 35 of those people felt the laws were wrong, that marriage should be a protected institution.  Of the remaining 15 who approved of the change, several could not offer an intelligent reason as to why.  In other words, they don't know what or why they believe what they do -- or what eventual consequences we may be dealing with because we can't be bothered to think this through, (ex: "Let me introduce you to my new spouse.  Aunt Rose, this is my dog & wife, Muffin.").  The point was made, 25 years ago there wouldn't have been anyone of the original 50 who would have accepted this.  Attitudes are shifting and not necessarily for the better and not on just this issue.

  Have you ever visited the stockyards?  Ever seen pictures on TV or video where the animals are penned up?  They are on unfamiliar ground, separated from other familiar animals that were on the farm, smelling strange smells, hearing unfamiliar sounds.  Sometimes the workers will use gates or lead ropes to guide them where they need to go, but there is a general restlessness to the herd.  They don't usually just stand quietly waiting for whatever happens.  They move around, talking to each other, trying to get a sense of what is expected.

  That is us.  At least that's the way it seems to me.  The thought occurred recently that if we were to have a crisis like on 9/11, our leadership would not be able to handle it.  While Bush was not perfect, I have absolutely no confidence in Obama or anything he "decrees".  I sense this on a larger scale.  The liberals were so happy to have Obama voted in, they just knew he would usher in a new era of "change".  I think we are beginning to realize that nothing has changed, if anything we have less than before.

  Have you sensed this as well?  Are we on the verge of more big problems?  Or am I just borrowing trouble . . .

  Just thinkin'  ~  Terri  

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