I worked summer school this week…but…not at my school…so…as I was driving
a different route…I noticed a fairly unusual road sign…Cow Crossing…I immediately looked in all directions…and…you guessed it…I didn’t see a single cow…hmmm…
Interestingly…I grew up on this road…figure I’ve gone down it at least 11,000 times…don’t laugh…I did the math…that’s a conservative estimate…anyway…in all my years…I don’t recall ever seeing the sign…not even in the recent years when I rode my bike through there…well…there were some dogs in that area that I was always aware of…so…that may have held my attention…but…I promise…dogs or no dogs…I would have noticed cows crossing the road…
Honestly…riding on country roads…I did come across a few stray cows…and they get more than a bit skittish when a girl on a bicycle rides nearby…and at their size…I figure an altercation could have unpleasant consequences for said rider…so…my cow radar was always turned on…but…I digress…
The point of the story…was that I wondered…why if I’ve never seen a cow in the area…was the sign here…I mean really…the highway department doesn’t put up signs haphazardly…there had be a reason…
Further investigation…did reveal a gate to an empty pasture on the left side of the road…but there was a steep embankment leading to it…definitely not easy access…then…way on the right side…nestled between some houses…I did see some cows…happily grazing…in another pasture…but there wasn’t a gate…and…not a one of them seemed to have the least interest in crossing the road…
About that time…Bertha…popped up from the backseat…surveyed the situation…and said…it reminded her a lot of life…of course…mine in particular…
She said…that I have been known…to do things…that make absolutely no sense to the average observer…but that to me…they make perfect sense…and have a valid reason…
Of course…the reverse is true…and I think that’s the case that she was trying to make…that I have observed the actions of others willy-nilly…and…that…yes…on occasion…I had made certain assumptions regarding their actions…AKA…judgments…without having the least understanding of the circumstances…
Hmmm…busted…I guess I’ve done that a time or two…
Then…she gave me a new quote…just to help me remember the lesson…
Ignorance of the cows…is no excuse! ~Bertha
Somehow…I don’t think that one will become a question on Jeopardy…but hey…what do I know…
Jane
Love it! Great post about making judgements as well. So many people do that and then they just might lose out on a great friendship, business relationship, etc. Just because someone does things a bit differently or does something you don’t understand does not mean they are weird, unprofessional, or crazy…it all makes perfect sense to them 🙂 thank you for your posts Jane. I look forward to receiving them in my email box each morning.
Thank you for your insightful comments, Rebbekah. It is so true that we can’t see inside another person to understand their whys and wherewithals before judging their actions. I’m so glad you will be getting the posts via email. That makes me happy!
Hi Jane!! Great post as usual!! I love getting these as well its always a refreshing way to start the day or some days i save for the afternoon when i need something lighthearted to remind me how fun life can be!! I love you Jane!
Cathy…thank you…that is so sweet and makes me very happy! I love you, too!
Love this!!!! And just adore Bertha for making me think more!!!
Arlene…I would think that with your livestock…you’d know the answer…LOL! Thanks for visiting!
Bertha has created a great quote here! I have not seen a cow-crossing sign but we do have many to tell us dear are nearby. Funny post Jane 🙂
Thank you Christy. I think you should definitely visit Alabama so you can see the cow crossing signs…will give you stuff to write about…LOL!