Audra Zimmerman – Zimmerman Harvesting
Playing the “Oregon Trail”
Well, we have had one of those weeks!!
I will start with the good news…
We found work in O’Brien, TX – 700+ acres of wheat. We are working for a wonderful farmer, Jimmy. He is 70 years old and his wife is wanting him to retire; he doesn’t want to. Andy told him that his dad is 77 and is still farming full-time. Jimmy proceeds to call his wife and give her this information. Now Andy is on her bad side…ha ha. We also have been able to work since Wednesday. It’s been HOT down here – 100+ degrees the last two days. But “it’s a dry heat”, the locals are telling me. Well in my book, it’s still HOT – I am a snow girl not a heat girl.
Now for the bad news…
My brother says I’m playing the video game, “Oregon Trail”. Background: This game first came out when I was in the 3rd grade. We played it on the the first generation of the Apple computer (this was in the early 1980’s…now I’m dating myself- yep I’m 40+).
Anyway, the goal of the game is to load up your covered wagon (5th wheel camper) and set out from St Joe, MO (Hicksville, OH) and travel over 1,000 miles to Oregon (harvest all over the wheat belt states). And arrive alive (harvest all the wheat you can find).
Along the way to Oregon you have challenges.
Broken Wagon: Aka – call the RV service guy out to fix your brand new camper and blow, not one, two tires on your service truck – broken wagon wheel).
You fight the weather – Yep…Hail Storm! Softball-sized hail on your brand new pickup truck (haven’t even made the first payment yet).
More Wagon breakdowns: Combine needs a new alternator and a hydraulic leak on the grain cart tractor…to be fixed this week.
Snakebites: Yep, my dog got bit by a rattlesnake. Advantage over the game: dog hospital 3.5 hrs away in Dallas. Hopefully she will make it.
Food shortages: Yes, I need to go hunting (aka: the grocery) and just haven’t had time. No, I didn’t make rattlesnake soup, as my brother suggested.
Haven’t crossed the Platte River yet: So, hopefully, we won’t loose our wagon in the river.
Prayers for a better week. Review your safety videos on rattlesnake bites – where I come from in Ohio, we do not have rattlesnakes.
One last note: When we went to the Animal ER on Thursday in Abilene, I told the vet we don’t have rattlesnakes in Ohio and I’m not famous with what happens when you get bit. Her exact words, “Well, welcome to Texas where everything will kill you.”
Yes, I am playing the “Oregon Trail” and, yes, I’m ready to leave Texas now.
1. Be ready to go at the drop of a hat...sometimes without a lunchbox.
2. Has removed the word impossible from her vocabulary!
3. Can hold a baby, take care of a toddler and drive a tractor or combine all at the same time.
4. Must be able to cook for a crew - large or small.
5. Must be able to read minds.
6. Must be able to banter with a parts man until he realizes you DO know what you're talking about.
7. Must be the entertainment director for those rainy days.
8. Be a wife, mom, friend, helper, cook, problem solver, taxi driver or extra crew hand at all times.
9. Can handle the call that makes you react, "You need what? When?" Dropping everything you're doing to make it happen.
10. At the end of the day say, "I really do love this life".
