Well, tonight's show was a rerun of their two-part special on the evolution of dogs and dog breeds. I love dogs, and it was actually odd timing since yesterday while we were walking by our local retention pond, someone was there with their English Springer Spaniel, the breed of my childhood dog. It made me rather nostalgic for that dog. So, even though tonight's Nature was a rerun, we watched it because it was about dogs. And at the end of the episode is a segment about border collie sheepdogs in the Lake District of England. There it was: the green hills, the clouds, the sheep, the dogs. It all prompted me to the following after a deep sigh, "I still wish I could live in New Zealand someday and have my own sheep."
Linus' response, "You really are a hopeless romantic."
"I am, aren't I?" Another sigh as the childhood dream fades. "I guess I can in the next life at least."
"Why not in this one?"
"What?"
Linus repeated himself: "Why not in this life?"
"You mean you'll take me to live in New Zealand someday?"
"Sure, why not?"
I shrugged, "Ok." But inside, I'm jumping up and down and so glad that I have a husband who indulges my Romanticism and doesn't kill my dreams. It will probably never happen, but at least I can still dream about it.
I'm not quite sure where this Romantic side of me comes from, but it's apparently something I was born with. Whether it's watching Nature, dreaming of having a little land in New Zealand with some sheep, or just a few chickens in my suburban backyard, I am a Romantic. While all the other students walked by without even looking up, I was the one stopped still in the middle of the sidewalk watching the hawk on the branch above me eating his breakfast of small rodent. I'm the one who's always looking in the trees every time I hear an unfamiliar bird call or to try to find the cardinal I can hear or the chickadee. It's amazing how well a bright red cardinal can blend into the green leaves of the trees. It's no wonder everyone around here associates them with winter. That's the only time you can actually see the shy little birds. But once I identified their call, I can hear them every walk I take.
Why? Why am I the Naturalist and the Romantic? I know my parents gave me part of it, of course. They were the ones watching Nature in the first place, and so many birds and parrots have chosen their backyard for a reason. They always had binoculars and bird-books whenever we went camping. And it seems like most of our family trips involved Nature in some way: camping, Lake Powell, hikes in and around Flagstaff, national and state parks, etc.
Anyway, I think I'm starting to ramble. But, let it be acknowledged that I am a hopeless Romantic with dreams of nurturing the land and various animals. I guess it makes sense that for a very long time I wanted to be a large animal vet like James Herriot. After actually reading some of his books as an adult, I realize of course that I have neither the strength nor the build to be an effective large animal vet, but that's beside the point. It still sounds fun. Oh well.
Ironically, Linus is the one who actually got to help out on dairy farms when he was on his mission. I've fed calves at a relative's dairy farm, but I've never even milked a cow before. He has done everything from milking cows to delivering calves. Unfortunately, I don't think he ever wants to get that close to a cow again. But that's ok. All I'm asking for is sheep...in New Zealand.
9 comments:
Hurrah for hopeless romantics. They are who give this world and others a little bit of excitement; they make life worth living via friendly reminders to stop and smell the roses.
I'm so glad you love cardinals!
I always remember favorite primary song, "Whenever I hear, the song of a bird...."
I'm a hopeless romantic. Not about animals, although I'm convinced that I want to be a vet when I read James Harriot too. I think anyone with a passion for something who can also write well inspires that passion in others. That's one of the marks of a good writer to me. Like I'm not a horse person, but when I read Beauty by Robin Mckinley, I wanted to be a horse person.
I have things I'm romantic about, but nothing is coming to mind right this second now that I'm thinking about it. Probably living in the 19th century. Now, I know that this is very much impossible, but sometimes I like to pretend that it could happen anyway.
So what is the term for a boy with similar affectations? Like crying at the end of ET or Old Yeller? Just wondering, because I have a friend who does that.
HJ, some of the best, or at least the most vocal, Romantics (note the capital R) have been men (Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, part of Goethe, even perhaps Emerson and Thoreau). No shame in it. But, if you must have a title to give your friend other than Romantic, what about "emotionally honest"? That seems an acceptable phrase to use for a man.
There are few more romantic figures than the American cowboy. I think you come by your romanticism honestly. Papa, the old cowboy.
And I shall come be your shepherd and spin the wool!
-uc
Each morning when I get to school, a rooster crows on a farm nearby. Cool.
I loved seeing those boarder collies on that Nature episode. I loved how their owner could control them with a mere whistle or "stop," and they dutifully obeyed even when he wasn't looking at them. They were so attentive and obedient! Wish I could whistle. It could come in handy.
Der Meister and I would gladly visit you in New Zealand (though it may be less often than our visits now). On a side note, I like the movie Babe because it was shot in New Zealand and has boarder collies. And Herriot is hilarious! Glad to know another fan!
I can actually own land in New Zealand and was talking about doing so just this weekend. I heard Truman Madsen speaking about the essence of natural beauty being holy and that was why Joseph sought a grove of trees for his experience in prayer. Being close to the natural beauty of the earth enriches, refreshes and restores us. North or South Island? Mutti
You can't be that hopeless if your hubby considers it a possibility!
I've been reading a lot of romantics lately for one of my classes. All I can say is, be careful what you wish for, or you might end up married to a snake in Atlantis.
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