[getsmart-l] National Farmers Union Ontario Commentary - Finding friendship in a snow storm

[John O'Gorman]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: National Farmers Union Ontario 
To: National Farmers Union- Ontario Commentary 
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 10:25 PM
Subject: National Farmers Union Ontario Commentary - Finding friendship in a snow storm


 

Finding friendship in a snow storm.

 

A personal essay for the National Farmers Union Ontario

By Grant Robertson

 

One of the facts of life living in rural Southwestern Ontario is winter weather- bad winter weather.  This year has been more unusual than most with snow, rain, snow, some more rain, more snow and so on.  On a farm with livestock, particularly young livestock, keeping them healthy with such variable weather can be an additional challenge added to the challenge of coping with the weather.

 

Truth be told I sometimes like these spells of bad weather, as long as we are all safe and snug at home.  In this hustle and bustle world a good blow of snow forces us to stay at home and enjoy, or sometimes not so enjoy each other’s company.  In each of the last three winters we have had extended periods without hydro.  Even those have been enjoyable as we ‘pioneered’ it with our children, cooking with our cookstove and spending our time with some of the simple tasks of life that now come at the touch of a button or the twist of a handle like heating with wood and carrying water for use.  Not saying I would like to do this every day mind, but as a type of stay at home vacation/camping trip it is not so bad for our family.  I am always reminded though that others are not so lucky and that for too many in our country struggling to keep warm and fed is a daily task that burdens their enjoyment of life.

 

Part of what has happened in our society is that we are always on the go.  Even ‘retired’ folk seem to be busy all the time.  Life at this pace leaves too little time for simple pleasures like talking and sitting around and enjoying each other’s company.  So as we relaxed at home on a blustery, cold and miserable winter’s day we had no sense we would soon we welcoming strangers into our home and on our way to making new friends.  

 

As the afternoon wore on, with us unable to see more than a few metres from the house, word came that somewhere nearby our farm, there was a vehicle off the road and that there was a baby with them.  We offered to go out and see if we could find them and if they needed help.  

 

As we struggled down our 300 metre lane to reach the road, in wind that just drove through us, barely slowed down by our bodies, we talked about which way to look.  We tramped down the side of the road one way in whiteout conditions wearing the most reflective and bright colours we could find.  My wife, daring adventurer that she is, was the one to find them.  

 

We led the 4 adults and baby back to our house and got them warmed up.  As the day turned to night it was obvious that we were going to have company for the night.  As we sat in our living room after supper talking and laughing with people who were quickly becoming new friends it was obvious we knew many people in common.  We rather enjoyed having our visitors and they fit themselves right into the routine of our home and farm.  Except for the sleeping over part, it reminded me of the neighbourly and family visiting on a Sunday of my youth.  You might remember those days before we spent our time haunting big box stores shopping for recreation on our Sundays.

 

There was a lesson in that stormy Sunday night.  New friends and simple enjoyment can come when we slow down.  All it cost us was a bit of exercise, bitter cold, hot chilli, a warm and cozy fire and a willingness to extend a helping hand.  If only everything in life we chase came so cheap.

 

________________________________________________________________________

Grant Robertson is a senior official with the National Farmers Union-Ontario and a National Board Member of the NFU. Grant and his family farm near Paisley, Ontario.  The author can be contacted at grant at bmts.com

If you have been forwarded this commentary and would like to be added to the distribution list please send an email to grant at bmts.com with “subscribe” in the subject line. 
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