The Road Less Traveled 1

Posted by Joyce (Montana, United States) on 17 July 2011 in People & Portrait.

I was down in a ditch pointing my camera at the hills when I heard someone shout "Hey!" I turned to see the Mail Delivery Lady grinning down at me from the shoulder of the road. She asked if everything was ok, and then invited me to a 4th of July BBQ; then zoomed off leaving me with that lovely grin of hers all over my face too. Wild and wonderful Paradise Valley. Not just dust in my eyes.

Thank you for your visit and comments.

Comments (7)

Candais from Lisieux, Canada

That is so great. Did you go?

17 Jul 2011 1:20pm

@Candais: Alas, no. I stayed home to be with my animals who were nuts from fireworks.

Jason Politte from Conway, AR, United States

Wonderful portrait, Joyce! Did you enjoy the BBQ? :-)

17 Jul 2011 2:13pm

@Jason Politte: I decided to stay home that day. Very hot outside, and it was just so cool and quiet inside our home, that I stayed home from the parade and BBQ in favor of being with my pets, who were on edge from early fireworks. My friends thought I was being silly. I did miss taking some good pictures. Sort of a sadsack that day. :-/

Isidro from Barcelona, Spain

simpatica expresión de la señora, muy buena!!

17 Jul 2011 4:37pm

karla from Omaha, United States

What a great place, with caring and friendly people! Our dog, a Great Pyrenees (passed on, end of 2010), would react to fireworks, popping up herself on all fours at every little and big cracker sound. We stayed home with her, and our presence and guidance did seem to help calm her. I suppose it depends on the individual animal, but most dogs at least get frantic with fireworks. Cats, too. Did not even think about pet birds, though wild birds also react to fireworks.

17 Jul 2011 7:40pm

@karla: It really is a great place, it's small population I like, having been raised in the anonymity of Los Angeles, where you don't see the same face twice out there; here we deal with same ones. It's centering, different POV. Fireworks are a challenge to me. A mixed bag of issues. I think they are on their way if not out, to more considerate use in our country, and I am going to work at seeing them regulated here in my community. The end of 2010 was just the other day was it not?

B. Thomas from Arlington, Texas, United States

That sounds like the joy of a small community. It's sure different than in a city like ours where people do not know or depend on neighbors. I'm lucky that I've lived in a good neighborhood for a long time and many of us know each other (and all the pets).

17 Jul 2011 10:54pm

@B. Thomas: It is a fortunate thing to have a community of people who care for one another. This mailwoman is a joyful doll of a person, daughter of the soil I call her, she is third generation Montana rancher...and she delivers mail each morning too.

Jason Politte from Conway, AR, United States

Nah, not being silly - sounds a lot like my wife and I. :-)

19 Jul 2011 2:04am

@Jason Politte: It's interesting how many people feel similar. Just curious. Fireworks are such a ritual, one that we don't question, generally. I definately do, living out here with so much wildlife.

Julie Brown from Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

And she was in her Subaru too!

19 Jul 2011 2:16am

@Julie Brown: I think Subees are the most common car, so much so that I have a bright bumper sticker and stuff hanging from my rear view mirror so I don't try to get in the wrong one in the supermarket parking lot.