I grew up in the country. Well, I suppose now it would be called the suburbs. But when I was growing up, it was the country.
We have roads, not streets. Evergreen trees are our quiet neighbors. On a windy day, you can smell the horses three houses down (which is actually a quarter mile away.) Our road wasn't paved until I was in second grade. Cable television wouldn't even reach our house until I was in high school. Taking a walk around the block meant you'd be back in an hour. We played in the woods and touched slugs. We only came back to the house when we were hungry or had to use the bathroom. We were encouraged to only watch movies and we didn't get Internet access until my uncle convinced my mom of its educational possibilities. (I remember when one of the boys in my 10th grade biology class brought in "something from the Internet" for my teacher and I was sure it was pornography! :)
My dad grew up in the house next door and there is a big, red barn between our two properties. Bigger houses are popping up all over the place as well as little cul de sacs, so maybe it is the suburbs. But I don't know. When the directions to your house growing up included the instructions "the house next to the big, red barn," even if animals haven't inhabited it for more than thirty years, I think that's a pretty convincing definition of the country.
I moved from my childhood home when I married my best friend. He was a charming Conservative from the city who loved talking to his next door neighbor while grilling on the porch and socializing with friends on his front stoop. It was a process for me, one that took some getting used to. But because I knew this was the man I wanted to be with for the rest of my life, I knew that I would grow to love it as much as he did. The houses here are a lot closer together, driveways are a novelty and attached garages are almost unheard of. The first time I pulled in the driveway of our apartment by myself, I opened my car door and it touched the house next to ours. I cried. But I quickly fell in love with the convenience, wonder and excitement of living in the city. Especially when I was pregnant. It's pretty nice having an Anderson's Roast Beef & Custard within a two-mile radius when those last-night cravings came rolling around! When I forgot an ingredient for dinner, Andy's back within seven minutes. And it truly is the City of Good Neighbors (except for our neighbors on the left - the worst ones on the block - but that's a story for another time.)
We drove to the country on Good Friday and enjoyed a day with Nana, soaking up the unseasonably warm weather. I took my City Boys outside so they could enjoy the unique texture of grass for the first time. As you can see, they preferred the comfort of mommy's lap more than anything. But it was cute to see them interested in exploring their surroundings.
Jack seemed interested in touch the grass for a few short moments, though Ben preferred to keep his feet on my lap.
Jonathan (grey) and Benjamin (blue) are close to naptime!
Benjamin is definitely a cuddle bug
Even though I've been enjoying the comforts of living in the city - plethora of restaurants within walking distance, the park, the zoo, and the theatre within a ten minute drive - it's still nice for this Country Girl to make the 25-minute trek back to the country (or at least what feels like the country for me) to enjoy the simple pleasures again. How lucky for my boys, to have the best of both worlds!
