These are random musings of my life journey, the people, animals, places, and events which have woven, and continue to weave, a tapestry that is me. We all know there is no real destination, only the ongoing experiences which blend together, creating the trail. Each step gives a glimpse of what is to come, without allowing me to see the end result. It is exciting. I have a home base that is mine, that gives me a place to rest. This is it. This is where my heart is, no matter where I journey...................

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Musings

I was thinking about the conversations we had during our trip on Monday and some random related thoughts. Most were related to the comparison of our home grounds in the mountains and high mesas to the environment of the city. Wanna hear 'em? If not, click on another web site now, 'cause that's the theme for the day!

First is the difference in the pace of life between Albuquerque and Lincoln County. All of us were struck by the undercurrent in most of the stores that I describe as "get there, find it, pay it, go"! Trader Joe's might have been the worst. None of us encountered rudeness, but the patrons of the store seemed to be focused to the nth degree on getting their shopping done and on with their days. This happens in the city, any city. And I've been part of it in the past, too. Now, however, I see this and I think "what is your rush???" It occurs to me that if you rush through a task, in this case shopping, and you save three minutes by rushing, that's good, right? But tell me this .... how are you going to use those three minutes? Even if you save three minutes five times a day, you now have 15 minutes, but how will you use it? From my own experience, you don't. Or you use it to figure out how to save the next three minutes. I'll bet not one person used that time to relax, to let go of the tension.

We talked about how people behaved in a polite yet impatient nature when they came up against a road block of carts and bodies. A few people said "excuse me" by way of asking people to make room so they could get through. Most people waited without a sound and without clearing of throat or other attention getting acts, but the expressions on their faces were "controlled impatience." No eye rolling, no frowning, but you could sense and almost see the tension in their bodies. In our market at home, if the aisle is blocked people tend to simply stop, take a moment to look around, or, as one of my companions noted, actually have a conversation with someone. Customers in TJ's were scurrying, darting around, having no interaction with others, including eye contact most of the time. Customers locally tend to, well, mosey through the store! Such a different aura!

The next thing we discussed is something I can't quite decide how to categorize. Attitude and friendliness? Desire to assist others? Knowledge? It's all of those. A few times we asked directions. People working in the businesses seemed to have no knowledge of the area. One girl claimed "I've only lived here three months." A couple people said flatly, "I have no idea." There was not an offer to check a phone book, ask another employee, anything that would help our plight. One man on the street did give us good directions. He said "I've never been there myself, but it is ...." I thought this was amazing. People must drive to work, go to the few business on which they rely for their own supplies, then go home without looking from side to side. It seems they don't look outside their own regimen for anything new and interesting. If you stop in almost any business in our area to ask directions or for a particular business or type of business, most people will give you directions. Or they will look it up in the phone book. Or they might say to check with George in the shop next door because he has lived here his whole life. Some people will lead you to the place! One exception might be in Ruidoso where many of the employees are college students spending the summer working and they may not be from here.

I understand that in a big city there is a lot more to know about, but when we asked for a business that turned out to be in the next block, and our informant didn't know about it, I just found that appalling. I've thought back on this, and I believe that if someone had asked direction of me in KC, I could have identified a place, would have looked in the phone book or otherwise tried to help out of towners find their destination. And when I lived in Albuquerque 35-45 years ago, I don't remember people being "big city-ish," in the way of relating to others, especially visitors. It was 1/4 the current size, but 200,000 or 250,000 isn't a small town! Perhaps I have always been more of a small town girl than I thought.

Lastly, the weather. It was unbearably hot there! Perhaps when I lived in Albuquerque before, I was young enough to be more tolerant to temperatures, but I honestly don't think that is it. I simply don't remember very many 95° or more days in the ten years I lived there. One of my friends speculated about global warming. We talked about the addition of XX square miles of asphalt pavement, concrete sidewalks, breeze-inhibiting buildings, etc., which have morphed over the years. Offsetting that you have the planting of trees and patches of grass in what was once a desert with mostly scrub growth, few trees. But can the plants offset the inert additions? I don't know. What I do know is that I am extraordinarily glad that I live on the side on my mountain!

What do you think? How do small towns and cities compare in your thoughts? What are your experiences?


And speaking of weather, it seems that our heat spell has broken. Today's high is slated to be 67°. At 8:30 the temp was 56°, and now nearly noon, it is a crisp 66°. Ahh. So nice! The next 10 days are forecast to be between low 80s and high 78s and with rain possibilities on most of those days. How nice! I'm all for that! I got rain again overnight, haven't checked the rain gauge for the amount, but it was a good hard rain at least for a while. It is so pleasant. I have five dogs asleep on the couch beside me, so you know it is unanimous at Chez Lynilu!

OK, I'll stop for now, because you guys need to get back to work. Shuffle that paper, sweep that floor!! Not me; I'm retired! Later!

10 comments:

  1. I live in a small town also so small that our police dept has half day on sunday off and all day monday off. Going to Erie or Pittsburgh (two big citys) I have noticed a change in behaviour also. The police here if they are not responding to a call will say follow me and take you to your location as in Pittsburgh we stopped a officer and he gave us directions but they werent very good. I have also noticed differences in peoples behaviour too here we are laid back not Erie or Pittsburgh even Meadville is a rush city (they arent very big either).

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  2. We live in a smaller town that is a bedroom community of a much larger town, so we get a little atmosphere from both. Unfortunately, at least according to my wife, the upscale folks reside in both and usually have a me-first attitude in public. So I don't see much difference here. Maybe if we drove 20 miles or so into farm country the pace would slacken and people would be more polite.

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  3. Bobbie, I can't say our law enforcement is all that helpful, because I just don't know. But they are awfully full of themselves so .... I think a lot of that depends on the individual officer. You're lucky to have the one you do!

    Dave, perhaps that is some of it, the me-first snobbery. That tends to lessen, I think, when everyone in town will know if you're a jerk. Although, there are still a couple of people who don't seem to get that!

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  4. There are big differences between small town and big cities. I would love living in a small town in a big city.

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  5. MJ, HUH?? LOL! No, I gotcha. Not a bad idea ... the best of both.

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  6. I have to give directions hundreds of times a week...and all I do is read from the map. 30 miles from where I live, no idea cause I've never been there. Truth is, I get lost going to my mailbox. Seriously, I've passed my house before.

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  7. Kathi, working where you do, I don't doubt it at all! I worked for a few months in an OB/GYN office, and it seemed we were always doing so. I am picturing you driving by your own house and giggling!

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  8. TJ shopping cannot be hurried, because of all the good, new things you can find. I feel sorry for those people rushing it. I am usually oblivious to the ppl around me - I bet they are clearing their throats and giving me the hairy eyeball while I am drooling all over the gingersnaps or ice cream sandwiches.
    Also, I've had to ask for directions in Dothan a few times and was amazed at how rude the ppl were - one guy just smirked at me and got in his car. I've had better luck in my own city of 4 million ppl.

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  9. Hey, I noticed my comment didnt get saved on your previous post - but I am going to keep an eye out for the cereal here and will let you know if I see it.

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  10. Julie, I agree with you on that, it can't be hurried. The drooling is part of the shopping, and if we go too fast we miss the objects of our drool!

    Well, there you go, rude is rude is rude. I wonder if the smirker didn't know the directions you asked and was chicken (too macho) to admit it.

    And thanks! If you find it I will be eternally grateful!!

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If you have something to say about it, just stick out your thumb, and I'll slow down so you can hop aboard! But hang on, 'cause I'm movin' on down the road!!! No time to waste!!!