Forest People

So, today was just really weird.

It started out normal (as normal as my life is at the moment). I worked out all morning and read most of the afternoon. Didn't head outside until 2:00, when I felt it was hot enough outside to suntan and read. I was just about to...ehm...um, tan, when I heard voices. Now, this is alarming only because my parent's home is nestled deep within the woods. People in our woods is a foreign concept. So foreign, in fact, that I assumed the 3 teens I saw from my distant vantage point were homeless. They had buckets are were playing above the our waterfall--which all can be seen from a 100 yards away if you look down from the hill where my father's honey shop is located.

Me, being me, wanted to help. So I made PB sandwiches and went in search for them. This was, of course, after calling my mom--who in turn called my Dad & the sheriff. I received orders to NOT approach them. Uh, yeah...okay. I waited patiently for my dad or the sheriff, but then my dog started freaking out and went charging into the woods. I heard screams, shouts and barking dogs. This made me go charging into the woods to coral the dog. The kids threw a rock at my dog and went running into the woods when they saw me. I should mention this all took place on my parent's 15 acres. I know those woods inside and out. But I had no desire to scare the kids. So I shushed the still barking dog and called out to the kids that I was a friend and meant them no harm. That I only wanted to help. At this point I called my friend, Becca, to let her know what I was up to. She did not like the plan that involved me marching through the woods while strangers were lurking about. I didn't know these kids were kids at the time. They seemed older from the distance I saw them from.

The poor dears. I felt so sad for them. As I was walking home, my mind running wild with story ideas, one of our neighbors drove by me. She stopped to ask if everything was okay. Apparently I looked upset. (I have no poker face.) I told her my worry and she asked if it was her kids. Uh...she has kids? Our neighbors live up the log road about 1/2 mile. We rarely see them, unless we're walking on the log road and they happen to drive by (which was the case now.) She was so embarrassed and kept apologizing. She explained that her kids just loved playing in the creek and really, really loved our waterfall. This surprised me, because we had rules growing up (and still now) to never go on the neighbors property. It just wasn't done! So, I was really glad everything was cleared up. And that the kids I saw were not homeless, only wearing their pajamas in the forest & pretending to have an adventure. I can relate to the latter. Like I said, I grew up in those woods.

This whole situation was disturbing. I am so relieved to learn we did not have poor people living in our woods, but the fact that the idea crossed my mind as legitimate is a concern. The poverty people around the world face right now (even here at home) is heart wrenching to witness. It worries me that someday, possibly soon, that today's misunderstanding could easily become tomorrow's reality. The best we can do for those less fortunate is to offer friendship and no judgment. Be a friend to everyone, acquaintances and strangers alike. For now more then ever do we need to love one another and share the wealth.


ps--the PB sandwiches served well as dinner. :-)