Homesteader Life

Been savin’ up dimes
For a rainy day
Got about a dollar
Laid away
The winds from the south
And the fishin’s good
Got a pot belly stove
And a cord of wood
Momma turned the leftovers
Into Hash
We’re doing alright
For country trash

Found myself sing that song this morning while milking. Had to sing to keep my mind off my frozen fingers, it was -5 this morning. Anyhow, it got me to remembering “my night with Johnny Cash”. It was my senior year in highschool and my buddy Ethan had gone to Alfred college to study dairy management mismanagement. At that time we all thought going to college was “wise” idea. One day he called me on the phone all exited. “Johnny Cash is coming to town!!!”. I told him that was neat but there was no way I would be able to come join him, I had to milk in the morning. He told me he bought 2 tickets and was coming up to get me and would have me home in time for chores the next morning. As I was finishing up afternoon milking he came tearing in the driveway in an old 76 chevy flatbed. I jumped in and he gave me the details. Cash was coming to the highschool gym. He always made time to do little shows out in the sticks every couple of years. He didn’t make any money on them but liked to give the common folks a chance to hear him. It was great. Every seat in the gym was only a few feet from the show and the whole Carter family came along to play when Johnny needed a break. Old farmers would hollar out a request between songs and Johnny would play whatever they asked! We had a blast and after the show we jumped in the truck and Ethan drove me 4 hours home just in time to get milking. Years latter Ethan’s brother Nate and I would make a simair trip to see Merle Haggard. That night we got to meet Merle after the show and talk to him a little. Great memories, of some old time singers that gave a hoot about their fans and still remembered it was the common folks that put them up on that stage. Looking back, “We were doin’ alright for country trash!”

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