I was headed for the local botanical garden to soak up some foggy Spring beauty. On the way, the noisy world of men rankled my reverie.
Hey! Watch it!
Sheesh. The noise!
Click on this one for the beauty of azaleas and a man at work.
Careful, Fellas.Moving through Spring landscapes I found myself noticing the messes men make. Waiting for my folded-egg-on-a-plain-bagel, I jockeyed to get out of the way of a delivery truck. Then I heard the racket through the chain-link fence and snapped a picture of the men and machinery tearing up the landscape.
When I arrived with my sack of breakfast at the Botanical Gardens - more men - making more racket. How is a woman supposed to enjoy the beauty, the serenity of Spring?! Then I started to really look and really consider what I was seeing. The road bed, the pavement and curbs, the McDonald restaurant, the electric and phone lines overhead, the parking lot I sat in, the layout of the gardens and the light posts being installed - men. Men working hard. Men creating the surfaces and structures that make it possible for me to enjoy my life. So. I offer a salute to men. Noisy, dusty, sweaty and grimy men. Really. What would our world be without them? God bless 'em.
P.S. Don't get me wrong. I love my white-collar (OK, you guys! - I didn't know I'd written 'white-color'!) hubby, son, friends etc., but I needed to share my growing appreciation for the fellas who come home dirty and sore and will get up the next day to do more of the hard physical work that keeps our towns and cities running smoothly and indeed - looking lovely.
34 comments:
Wasn't sure where you were going with this one--admiration? irritation? Well, you settled it. Carl Sandburg should be your poet, instead of Robert Frost!
Yes, Donna! Let's give Sandburg his due. His would have been the urban laborer and hog butcherer rather than Frost's rural mower and woodchopper. Sweaty, hard work - all.
-I'm glad you had second thoughts about men.-We are picked on enough these days!
Summer is construction season and the city is full of noise from construction. Noisy, but necessary. I like the capture through the side mirror in the car.
ruth
Larry - I so totally agree.
Ruth - Yes. Necessary mayhem. No pain - no gain :0)
Adding my voice to the chorus to sing the praises of men! Love 'em!
I love men too, some more than others...
Thanks, Cathy, for sending the card and wonderful photos to Dale. He tried to smile when he saw the frog with attitude.
You are the best!
:-)
Cuppa - Yep. Big 'Yea!' for the guys:0)
Laurie - I'm so glad that card got there. Seems it took its time. Take care of yourself sweet lady. Here's a big ((Hug)) :0)
Ayayay Men.
They are a mixed bag, alright, but I love 'em!
Yes, bless their hearts, even when they track the grass and dirt on their shoes onto our kitchen floors. I especially appreciate the men who worked for the CCC camps 70 years ago, who constructed the roadways through our National Parks, who cut shrubs and trees down to make walkways through the forests at Mt. Rainier.
I watched with pounding heart yesterday as my man ascended a ladder up the steep slope of the unfinished roof of the new house to the peak, where he nailed a torn tarp back in place so water wouldn't ruin the boards. I could not have done that. Hooray for men! (well, most of the time. ;) )
Just returned from a week-end camping trip with 15 Boy Scouts and 6 dads. Yes, I was the only female in the lot. I love men, but right now all I want is a bath!
Cathy,
Amen to men. The white collared ones are necessary to lay out the plans, but the ones like my daughters's boyfriend, who is an electrician apprentice, comes home from work covered in red clay and other dark dirt. But we have light.
Yay to those noisy, dirty men, who use their skilled hands and strong backs!
AC -
I suspected you wouldn't argue my point :0)
Pam -
What? All men aren't perfect? ;0)
Bonita -
Oh yes, the CCC. The State Park near my hometown in central Ohio was their project. Bless 'em.
Deb -
I know just what you mean. I've seen men in precarious places from rooftops to treetops and could hardly watch.
Patrice -
And you still love 'em? Excellent. (I'll bet that bath felt soooo good.)
Mary -
Yes. We take these miracles for granted. Flip a switch and there's light. Chances are you can thank a guy for the wiring that made it happen.
Laurie -
Give your d.s.man a hug for me :0)
LAURA! It's late and I know you're 'Laura' - I've had Laurie of DMGFM on my mind so much recently.
Do give your d.s. man that hug for me:0)
As one of those white-collar men, I feel so proud when I can do some dirty, smelly task with some degree of competence - especially plumbing! There is definately something less manly about working behind a desk and more manly by working with your hands. I envy most the men than can do both - the skilled carpenter, the landscaper who creates a beautifully balanced yard...
Tim -
I so agree. I envy them and I'm a gal:0) I'm impressed that you even 'attempt' plumbing.
Check. ;)
I got here late but it's sure fun reading the responses!! My white collar DH dug holes for two ponds for me on Sunday- he knows how to do hard physical labor too. Thanks to my honey and "Yay MEN!!"
Casey -
I'm glad you 'checked' this out, but I really wanted you to see the 'God Created Man ' post two posts prior.
Lynne -
Whaaat!? TWO ponds? You lucky ducky! How neat. Hope we'll be seeing pictures.
We love making noise, messes and getting things going! It's our nature (well some of our nature).
Tom
I know we can count on you to keep doing what comes 'naturally' :0)
Well, that was refreshing.
FC -
Ah . . men :0)
Oh my. This made me laugh a lot. There are men outside my window throwing 70-pound chunks of concrete into a metal truck. Your photo show is great.
Well, my husband is one of those blue-collar noise makers, so I have to say that I liked the conclusion of your essay. Well done.
Thanks, Caroline. I couldn't toss a 5 lb. bag of sugar. Thank goodness - for men.
I'm glad you dropped by. I think I saw you over at Pam's blog and loved your comment about ancestors.
I love men at work whatever they're doing. You captured some great photos!
Pam -
I'm glad you enjoyed the pixes.
Our guilty little secret then - watching men work :0)
Thanks for the great piece.
I think you sent me a comment once I didn't know at the time that it didn't automatically publish. Please forgive my ignorance.
mcjn -
So glad you approve of my ode to men. This cyber-space stuff is fraught with pitfalls. Where there is no deliberate cruelty - I figure no apology needed. I got the sense of that last line from "A Street Car Named Desire" that I watched again last night. Don't think I'll do that again. Too dang painful. But Brando - oh, my.
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