A retired farmer sold his farm for a tidy sum and deposited all his money into a large, impersonal bank in a nearby city.
One day when he was in that city, he realized that he needed some cash to finish his city bizness, so he goes into his new bank to withdraw some money.
He hands his bank card to the teller and says, “I would like to withdraw $50, please.”
The haughty teller tells him, “For withdrawals less than $100, please use the ATM.”
The retired farmer asks why.
The teller returns his bank card and irritably tells him, “Those are the bank’s unbending rules. Please leave and go to the ATM for your $50 … there is a line of impatient customers waiting behind you.”
The farmer remains silent for a few seconds, then hands his bank card back to the teller and says, “Please help me withdraw all the money I have deposited in the bank.”
The teller is astonished when she checks the farmer’s account balance. She nods her head, leans down and respectfully tells the farmer, “Sir, you have $3,000,000 in your account, but the bank doesn’t have that much cash currently. Could you make an appointment and come back again tomorrow?”
The retired farmer then asks how much he can withdraw immediately.
The teller replies, “Any amount up to $10,000.”
“Well, please let me have $10,000 then,” says the farmer firmly.
The teller, with a sickly smile, sorts $10,000 bucks from her cash drawer and hands it to the farmer.
The farmer tucks $50 into his wallet and then says, “Now, please deposit this $9,950 back into my account.”
The folks behind him in line clapped their approval.
***
Speaking of land sales, ol’ Nevah and I have good news to report. We have a contracted buyer for our current property — Damphewmore Acres. I’ll discuss it more later if and when the sale is finalized. Suffice it to say at this time we’re happy with the new buyer and are eager to finalize the sale.
On a personal note from Nevah, she continues her full recovery from hip replacement surgery and a subsequent setback. She’s still doing regular physical therapy to strengthen her leg and that’s about it.
I can report significant progress on our new home under construction near Riley, Kan. The roof is on and the electrical and plumbing basics are in. The gas fireplace is set in place. The entrance door is hung. We have an exterior paint color selected. The main problem the contractor has had to date is with the electric company, naturally. The electricity powerhouse acts like adding a new commercial customer is a nuisance. However, even progress on the power front is being made
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My garden this year is not a bust, but almost one. The tomatoes are barely producing enuf for us to eat and make fresh salsa. The zucchinis have produced enuf for a few meals and for making zuch-strawberry jelly. The squash bugs have begin their annual decimation of the zuch plants. The hot weather is making the green beans abort new beans as soon as they set on the plant. The onions quit growing at about the size of a silver dollar for some reason.
We do have an abundance of new potatoes, although they are not as big as most years. Nothing is much better eating than new spuds.
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If you live in the Flint Hills, you are bound to keep having unusual encounters with wildlife. This year it’s been with black snakes. I have a one-half-inch bird mesh bundled up and hanging on the wall of one of my sheds. One evening last week, I smelled something dead in the shed. Upon looking, I discovered three mid-size black snakes that had some some reason tried to crawl through the net bundle and caught themselves tightly. One snake was long dead and dried up. One was stinking dead. And the third one wuz still alive, but barely. There’s no logical reason for the snakes crawling around on the wall of the shed. But, they did and they paid the ultimate price.
***
I’ve heard of Reaganomics in the past. And, I’ve heard of Bidenomics in the present. But, recently I heard of a new kind of economics — Veganomics — the supposedly good economics that stems from humans eating only vegetable matter. The list of advantages was long, predictable, and highly suspect.
Well, I’ve got my own theory about Veganomics. Here it is: Herbivores and omnivores like cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and chickens live on forage and grains, which all derive from plants. Therefore, meat is simply another form of high protein vegetable matter, which makes the meat industry a huge part of Veganomics.
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Words of wisdom for the week. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a pot of steaming vegetables smelled as good as a pan of frying bacon? Have a good ‘un.
