Moving Day
We were working on fences earlier this week, and I was surprised to turn around and see a crowd of cattle staring at me. Charlotte said, “They think we’re moving them today.” I looked at the gathered and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, your flight has been delayed, and we are anticipating a gate change as well.” They stood - stunned. The awkward silence was broken by a cow who moo’ed loudly and raised her head in an angry gesture. “Ma’am, you will get a voucher for a free meal, and I assure you we are making every effort…” At this point, she turned and ran away making quite the disturbance. The other cattle looked at me like they refused to give up. For the first time in my life, I understood what it’s like to be a gate agent at an airport.
Moooving day
Today we returned to the pasture and gathered the herd for the big move. They needed very little encouragement to find the gate at the north end of the field. After about twenty minutes, we had all of them at the gate. They stood and waited patiently. There was order, there was silence. None of them were talking loudly on cell phones, no one was running in at the the last minute with a bag of fast food. Attentively, they waited for the gate to open.
Stranded at the bus stop
I hadn’t seen Moogie, and I wondered where he was. After the two mile trek to the new pasture, we re-traced our steps to look for stragglers. We found Moogie and his sidekick waiting at the gate, expecting special treatment. Charlotte shook her head. “They’re not blending in.” I agreed, “They’re geeks, they’ll wind up in A/V club and there’s nothing we can do about it.” I had no patience for their desire to be special. I spoke to them harshly and got them running toward our destination.
“Let them walk,” said Charlotte.
“No, they’ll run like the rest of the herd.”
She shouted, “Alan is making you run - it’s not me!”
Shocked by her statement, I blurted out, “You are such the enabler of their bad behavior.”
I’m reading a book on personal boundaries. I think it’s spilling into my attitude with the herd.
Moooving day
Today we returned to the pasture and gathered the herd for the big move. They needed very little encouragement to find the gate at the north end of the field. After about twenty minutes, we had all of them at the gate. They stood and waited patiently. There was order, there was silence. None of them were talking loudly on cell phones, no one was running in at the the last minute with a bag of fast food. Attentively, they waited for the gate to open.
Stranded at the bus stop
I hadn’t seen Moogie, and I wondered where he was. After the two mile trek to the new pasture, we re-traced our steps to look for stragglers. We found Moogie and his sidekick waiting at the gate, expecting special treatment. Charlotte shook her head. “They’re not blending in.” I agreed, “They’re geeks, they’ll wind up in A/V club and there’s nothing we can do about it.” I had no patience for their desire to be special. I spoke to them harshly and got them running toward our destination.
“Let them walk,” said Charlotte.
“No, they’ll run like the rest of the herd.”
She shouted, “Alan is making you run - it’s not me!”
Shocked by her statement, I blurted out, “You are such the enabler of their bad behavior.”
I’m reading a book on personal boundaries. I think it’s spilling into my attitude with the herd.
Posted by in 05:00:00
OUCH — I’m sure sometimes gate agents just want those cranky passengers to just mooooove along!!