THE NOSEY NEIGHBOR- A little bit Sully & Dr.Quinn

THE NOSEY NEIGHBOR June 24, 2020

As usual, I tried to talk myself out of a walk, however, I bolstered myself and set out on a gloomy morning. I set my alarm for twenty minutes to remind myself that I perhaps might want to think about heading back for home.

This was not an exploration of the neighborhood but to get the exercise I needed.

It saddened me to find graffiti at some of my favorite spots and extra lighting to discourage such activity. This spot, a bit whimsical, always reminded me that there is light at the end of the tunnel as well as no matter how twisted life is, there is hope.

Then three blocks later, I heard a faint voice singing. It got louder as I continued down the sidewalk, I did my little cross the street and detour zig zag into the street to avoid a masked man standing on the corner, singing his heart out at around 6:30 am. He was totally oblivious to my presence.

While my hubby sleeps, instead of watching news, Dr. Quinn Medicine Women accompanies me for breakfast.

Perhaps, I am interested in this western because, I see Jane Seymour in many commercials as well as listening to her English accent and she falls in love with a rugged but handsome mountain man, the elusive Sully. I see a little bit of my mom in Jane Seymour and a little bit of my dad in Sully.

Perhaps, I am interested in this show because of the parallel drawn from my parents story.

If it was a show, it would have been titled “Laborers Together”, pioneering missionaries. Dad spent most of his life ministering to the spiritual needs of the indigenous people in the outbacks of Mexico.

I have often wondered what was going on in my mothers mind when they boarded that train from Oregon to Texas with three steamer trunks, all their worldly possessions, on their missionary journey that summer of 1948.

What was she thinking? I am sure had she known what she was getting into she may have voiced second thoughts.

She not only sacrificed ease of living but often found that living by faith was foreign to her. She was a CITY GIRL, and dad was an incredibly handsome country farm boy.

She did not know what it would be like to serve in one of the most primitive and dangerous areas of the State of Puebla and Veracruz.

Upon their arrival at the mission headquarters, it was hot and rainy. There was very little electricity at night.

She cooked on a two-burner kerosene stove.

She washed the clothes by hand in cold water and sat under the lines while they dried, otherwise the clothes would be stolen right outside the door. (especially the underwear)

She used the pressure cooker every day. They ate lots of bread, eggs, beans and bananas as they gradually learned to eat tortillas and chili in moderation.

She and Dad spent concentrated time learning the Spanish language. They worked together as a team. Dad’s strong points were speaking and hers was hearing and understanding.

“Isn't it funny how, day by day nothing changes, but when you look back everything is different.”

— C. S. Lewis

2Barbara Mason and Linda Treanor

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