"Farmer Joe will know" - Carson

It has been a busy past month culminating in today. The title above is the phrase which allowed my last month...well my last two years to emerge into a new stage. Carson, a 4 year-old spectacled boy with a mop of whispy blonde hair, tags along with his brothers whenever they come over to help. Today, Carson's brothers and mom were working on one side of Larry's (deceased neighbor) lawn as I trimmed the other. Their lawn-mower crapped out, and the mom huffed in defeat as she pulled frantically at the mower's pull cord. All four stopped and looked over to me. Carson turned to his mom and squeaked in his 4 year-old words " Don't worry mom, farmer Joe will know what to do."

Immediatley I puffed up, tipped my hat and strolled over in my duck boots. I let up the gas handle and pulled the cord twice to clear it out. With the gas handle down I gave it a pull. The mower roared to life as they beamed in admiration. As I walked away I saw Carson nodding knowingly to his mom.

Like most things that are worth having impact, it takes time for them to process and reveal their layers. Carson's words are such as thing and were timed perfectly with a major expanse of my ego. To explain this situation I am adding the link to the article from LEO Weekly about urban agriculture where Christian Walsh was kind enough to include me.

I woke up this morning with the taste of pipe smoke and good bourbon in my mouth and the grogginess of inadequate sleep on my face. It was going to be a tough one. The shower, coffee, ride to school and turning on my computer was all a blur until I checked the LEO website and saw one of my chickens proudly spreading its wings with a blurry me in the background. Instantly the day became 100 times better even with the terrible taste in my mouth. Over the course of reading scripted test instructions to the students, I couldn't help to think how freaking awesome my chickens and I are. Self-centered and egotistical. Relative norms with my personality.

My head grew until Carson uttered those words. He brought me back down to earth. I am not sure of the full impact of his words yet but he reminded me that all of recognition and production is the result of the knowledge I have been given by others. The structure of my life, physically and mentally has been contructed by my friends, family and, in Carson's case, my neighbors. He also reminded me that the focus of this word is not fame or recognition but the constant struggle to produce something positive in a community and in the lives of others. Thank you Carson