The Great Escape

On Friday we received an excited call from my Grandmother. Her voice always has a slightly higher pitched when there is something unusual going on. I find that completely adorable. My grandparents are farmers who still raise livestock and work a ten acre farm by themselves. This might not seem that out of the ordinary except that they are both well into their eighties and have no desire to stop any time soon. Grandpa says that he has always planned to live to be 106- I hope he makes it that far in as good of health as he's in now!

The story begins as the two of them were about to leave for a doctor's appointment Friday morning. On their way to the car they were surprisingly greeted by one of their rams strolling up the driveway. Quickly, Grandpa went to the pen to see how the ram had escaped. Unfortunately when he arrived, he realized that the situation was much worse than just one single ram finding his way out. The relentless wind and rain that had torn through the area the night before, had knocked over one of their trees destroying a large section of the sheep corral. Sheep were everywhere. Down the lane, in the vegetable garden, over in the neighbors orchard and some apparently had set off to find Little Bow Peep.

It would have been impossible for my grandparents to round up all fifty sheep and still make their doctor appointment. In desperation they asked a few of the neighboring farm workers if they would attempt to gather up any remaining sheep still wandering while they were gone. The workers agreed, and with little hesitation my grandparents hopped in the car and rushed off to their appointment. When the visit to the doctor's office was over, they quickly rushed back home fearing the worst. However, when they got back to the farm they found that everything had been mended. Not only did the workers round up all of the sheep, they also chopped up the fallen tree, stacked it into a neat pile and had completely mended the fence. Very surprised and thankful my Grandfather went to pay the workers for their trouble and to express how appreciative he was for their assistance.

Apparently he told one of the workers, "My wife is so happy she could kiss you!"

The workers laughed and politely refused the money. He tried to offer them produce and all the wood they had chopped. Everything he offered they politely declined. These workers make minimum wage, work grueling hours outdoors no matter the weather and still had the kindness to decline any form of compensation from my grandparents. When my Grandmother relayed the story on Friday evening, her last sentence was "Just when you wonder where all of the good folks have gone something like this happens. It would have taken us half a week to accomplish what they did in a few hours, I am so grateful."

I am so thankful for those workers and for their random acts of kindness. I hope you have a great week everyone!