The bank branch where Deb works is staffed by five people, including her (still in training, of course) and a woman who’s retiring today. The small crew is tight — professional, certainly, but friendly and, at times, playful. Deb finds the atmosphere to her liking.
When their personal lives permit, they try to gather for dinner after business hours on Thursdays. Spouses are invited. Yesterday Deb came Home first, then together we drove to Gassville and met her co-workers at Taylor’s Freez-King.
Good group. Good time. I can see why Deb enjoys her new job.
The food was, as usual, wonderful. I had a jumbo vanilla milkshake and the December special — the “Too Gouda to Be True” burger, featuring house-made bacon jam.
Conversation continued well after the meal. We were joined by Freez-King’s owner, a woman who’d worked there while in high school and bought the restaurant years later. (Carolyn of Carolyn’s Razorback Ribs in Yellville has a similar story, by the way.)
This young businesswoman spoke candidly about how hard it is to stay afloat not only during her year’s slowest months, but in the face of runaway inflation that’s doubled — and in some cases tripled — the cost of the food she buys.
“About all I can do is cut [employees’] hours, work doubles and talk to Jesus,” she said with homespun resolve.
She quickly acknowledged that the whole community is struggling. Every year, she noted, Freez-King makes modest contributions to support food and toy drives through the local schools. She said that a year ago, 37 students’ families applied for assistance through the program.
This year, the number is 127.
For more perspective, she said that typically on Thanksgiving, the Yellville Area Food Closet serves around 400 families with donated “blessing boxes.” This holiday, 850 families asked for help.
Listening to this woman, my first reaction was that we live in a community where neighbors do their damnedest to take care of each other. Ozarkansas may not be unique in that regard, but it’s how good gets done.
But I also couldn’t help thinking about the horrible human who currently occupies the Oval Office claiming that everything’s fine, that inflation is a right-wing conspiracy theory, that last month’s Thanksgiving dinner cost Americans less than before.
Around our table, no one said that out loud.
No one had to.
The Mountain’s whitetails are thriving. These five does and youngsters dropped by the lick at Mountain Two this afternoon.
These first five days without Deb around have tracked perfectly with a complete and utter lack of motivation on my part. I’m devoid of drive. I have zero zip.
It feels a little like burnout. I have no explanation for that.
Many moons I have lived.
My body’s weathered and worn.
Ask yourself — how old would you be
if you didn’t know the day you were born?
I’ve been up to puttering, at least, and to doing the few chores calling my name. Mostly, though, I’ve given myself permission to not take great strides in any particular direction — and not worry about it.
I took a walk today. Around noon, I think it was. With so much focus on the homesite, I have to remind myself that there’s another 18 acres of rugged woodland beyond. This day’s stroll (I won’t call it a hike) brought me out west of The Amphitheater, above our back yard.
Get up and go outside.
Don’t let the old man in.
I took in the long, sweeping view, the dark gray clouds gathering over the mountains. I felt the freshening wind on my face and listened to it rustle the tall cedars all around me.
At that moment I didn’t feel any more motivated. I was, however, refreshed.
When he rides up on his horse,
and you feel that cold, bitter wind,
look out your window and smile — but
don’t let the old man in.
I have no complaints. I do have neighbors who fight to feed their families and friends battling just to see another sunrise.
There’s much in this Life that I’m powerless to change. The least I can do, it seems to me, besides helping where I can and supporting my friends, is to truly live every day that I have the good fortune to be above ground — and not let the old man in.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable
#LetsGoBrandon #FJB