Country Focus: Making good choices in life

Seeing tractors in the field recently has put a more positive spin to this crazy spring we’ve been experiencing. I hope farmers can get more acres planted.

In life, you live with the consequences for your actions. I see it all the time in school and witnessed consequences growing up on the farm.

Mom taught me how to drive when I was about a 6th grader. I was dodging straw bales in the harvested wheat field while I’m sure she had a “oh no!” look on her face while gripping the door with white knuckles. After the lesson, I drove back to the yard and pulled up to the garage. I didn’t quite apply the brake enough and completely misjudged the distance. The center divider was nudged a bit inward. No damage to the pickup, thank goodness. I don’t remember mom getting too upset. When Grandpa Kunze heard about it, he would tease me. “If I ever need my garage widened, I’ll let you do it.” I never did live that one down.

One summer, Dad rented a John Deere 9600 combine. I rode with him for one round in the field to learn how to operate the expensive machine. As I was on tootling along, I drove the combine down a gently sloped hill. I see dirt flying and much to my dismay, I also used the header to dig the field. Dad didn’t tell me to raise the header as I go down a hill. I walk the quarter mile back the farm to get Dad. I’m nearly in tears because the header was bent pretty good. Dad and I go back to the field to survey the damage. I’m crying by this point and Dad is too, because he’s laughing his butt off! “Dad, just yell at me so I can feel better.” “I can’t. It’s too damn funny!” Good grief. Not the result I was expecting. I haven’t lived that one down either.

Like I tell my daughter…Make good choices!