Let me live in a house by the side of the road and be a friend to man

When I was a child in school, I remember reading a story about an old woman whose house was on a country road, and in the story she would stand by her gate and visit with the different travelers passing by.   To me that seemed the ideal of what I would like my life to be like when I was old.

At some point in my travels through life I heard the poem below, remembering only the line used above in the title of this post.

Today on a whim, I typed it in a search and found the whole poem.  How like my life it seems. 

We all at one time think "if I could live my life over I'd change....."  but the other day I thought, if I could live my life over, with benefit of hindsight, I would not want to change anything, that would change where I am right now.  My life has had good and bad, things that at first I would say I wish I hadn't had to go through, but they have all contributed to where I am now, and who I am now, and I am content, more than content, ... excited with this very moment in my life. 

And the poem below fits me so well with where I am now.  In my life I have been able to travel and meet so many wonderful people and experience so many wonderful things.  Here in Page, I've had so many intersting esperiences and met people from all over the world and our tractor events and display draws in even more.  As editor of the Ferguson Furrows magazine, our members are a wealth of new friends and experiences.  Through it I'm part of a young man's reconstruction of his grandfather's Ferguson tractor that will continue his heritage.  And I'm part of a new expedition to the South Pole with a young woman who came up with a story of a girl on a tractor travelinig to the end of the world to put the wishes of the world in the belly of a snowman.  Life is exciting.

It is also dramaticly disasterous and evil.  Yesterday two delusional misguided young men set off bombs at the Boston Marathon and distroyed and shattered many lives. 

Something so positive on one side, so evil and negative on the other.  So hard to explain, and understand. 

It makes being part of something good and positive even more worth it.  If only someone positive could have reached into the lives of those two young men. 

who will pass by on my road today that I can befriend?....

the house by the side of the road


by Sam Walter Foss (1858-1911)

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn

In the peace of their self-content;

There are souls, like stars, that dwell apart,

In a fellowless firmament;

There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths

Where highways never ran;-

But let me live by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.



Let me live in a house by the side of the road,

Where the race of men go by-

The men who are good and the men who are bad,

As good and as bad as I.

I would not sit in the scorner's seat,

Or hurl the cynic's ban;-

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.



I see from my house by the side of the road,

By the side of the highway of life,

The men who press with the ardor of hope,

The men who are faint with the strife.

But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears-

Both parts of an infinite plan;-

Let me live in my house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.



I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead

And mountains of wearisome height;

That the road passes on through the long afternoon

And stretches away to the night.

But still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice,

And weep with the strangers that moan,

Nor live in my house by the side of the road

Like a man who dwells alone.



Let me live in my house by the side of the road

Where the race of men go by-

They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,

Wise, foolish- so am I.

Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat

Or hurl the cynic's ban?-

Let me live in my house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

What a difference a day makes (2 times 360) plus 66

    My how time flies when you are having fun..... and I have to admit, it has been an enjoyable time overall.
    Would really like to think I would keep this up, but always seems there is something that distracts me away from it.  Does it really matter to anyone but me?  Probably not.  Guess in a way it's like graffiti on the airways.  Shows I've been here.
     So where am I at this place and time, compared to the last entry? 
     Jim - he didn't watch his diet, even surgically shurnk stomachs can stretch, and he is now were he was back with the diabetes, big stomach, and sore feet.  At least his kidneys are doing better.  It's hard for him I know, but he knows he is making the choices and he stays optomistic.  Also as we come out of what has been a very cold winter, he seems more motivated toward being busy and losing.  Neither of us has ever been good dealing with cold, and most of his projects require him being out in it, much easier to give in and stay inside in the warm. 
     For me, much of my interests lie inside, at my computer, so the motivation to get out and exercise really isn't there.
     I have begun to enjoy more TV of an evening.  But find it dissapointing when shows I really enjoy get taken off while others I consider less than trash, stay on.  Shows this year I especially enjoyed were The Neighbors, Middle, Modern Family and Suburgitory, Nashville, Zero Hour, Scandal, Elementry, Grey's Anatomy, Last Man Standing, Malibu Country and Downton Abbey. 
     Jim doesn't see much sense in TV, mostly because his hearing has gotten so bad he really can't enjoy it. So for several years I didn't watch.  This year I realized I missed it, and since my son had given me a big screen it seemed a shame not to enjoy it, so of an evening I go back and enjoy it.  At 66/amost 67, it seems I should do those things I enjoy at times.  Also I find it rests my eyes.  Good excuse. LOL