Gabriel

 "Find a mentor.”

“Befriend a local who can show you the ropes.”

“Most people want to share the love and passion they have for their home town.  Find someone who can tell you the best time to plant your tomatoes and the best place to purchase a good BBQ.” 

Every book, magazine and web page I studied before moving to the country offered similar advice.  My journey would be significantly less frustrating and more productive if I had someone to help navigate the transition from my large, suburban, chain grocery store to my new, small food co-op.   Someone to let me know the fuel at Charlie’s corner gas station was just as good as BP or Shell.  I needed someone to vouch for my credibility to the close network of locals.

My someone is Gabriel.  It doesn’t go unnoticed that Gabriel is interpreter of dreams and brings good news. However, my Gabriel would be very uncomfortable being placed in the company of archangels.

The husband and I met Gabriel when we were looking at the land which became our farm. We quickly realized the property line ran from the west side of the road through to the east side and into what topographically speaking was “our land”.  The realtor’s voice faded away while he spoke of easements and rights of way and my mind was filling with visions of gardens and walking paths and baby animals of all kinds.  I snapped back to reality when I heard the husband.  “So what you’re saying is the guy across the street technically owns the land on our side of the road?”   “Uh, I guess so,” the realtor replied as he scratched his head and looked through paperwork. 

Coming from the suburb of a large city I had heard of neighbors suing one another for placing a privacy fence 12 inches over the property line. Or people fighting over who should be responsible for a dying tree touching the corners of four family’s yards.  Maybe these were sub-urban legends but did we want to take a chance? We voiced our concerns and the realtor took us to the house across the street…our only neighbor for a mile in any direction.  He knocked on the door and soon a tall, thin man dressed in blue jean overalls and flannel shirt appeared.  A toothpick dangled from his mouth.

“Gabe, how are you?” The realtor shook Gabriel’s hand.

“Pretty good Marty. How’s business?  Seen a few new signs up in Coon Valley.” (Coon Valley??? Could that really be a town name??? )

“Sorry to bother you, I’m sure the football game’s on but I wanted to introduce you to a nice couple who might be interested in the place across the street.”

(Nice couple??? Was he talking about us???)

Introductions were made and hands were shook. 

After a few minutes of pleasant chit chat, the realtor got around to the issue at hand. “Say Gabe, did you know your property line angles right down the road and across the street?”

Gabriel’s toothpick moved up and down as he thought about this.  “Huh, guess I didn’t.  Must of happened when the road was redone.” 

“Well” the husband said.  “You don’t know us and we don’t know you so we didn’t know if this was going to be a problem.”

Gabriel ‘huhhed’ again.  “I have a couple hundred acres.  Some years I go a little over (with crops) to the neighbors.  Some years he is a little over on mine.  Never worried about a few feet or even a few yards before. Don’t think I’m going to start now.”

Somewhat sheepishly we thanked Gabriel and told him we looked forward to becoming his neighbor and walked back to the car.  Wasn’t our fear part of the attitude we want to leave behind?

Gabriel is smart and well spoken.  He is quick witted and makes me laugh. He smiles easily and when he listens, you feel as if your story is the most important thing to him at that moment.  Gabriel supports his church and community. It seems his knowledge of the area is limitless. We’ve spent many nights around the bon fire drinking a beer and listening to Gabriel’s stories.  He has taught us about the heavens, pointing out the well know Big Dipper as well as many lesser known stars.  When I inquired about the closely packed smaller stars dusting a path across the night sky I thought Gabriel was pulling my leg when he informed me it was the Milky Way.  A quick check on the internet verified what he said.  The first few months we lived here, the husband and I often would ask, “What does Gabriel think about___________?”  (Fill in the blank with just about anything related to rural life.)

Over the months and years, Gabriel has become a good friend.  He would watch out for our place when were not here.  The husband and I would chuckle because in the same week end trip Gabriel would politely tell us he did not hear us arrive at one o’clock in the morning, yet he would also tell us he heard some kids drinking beer behind the silo a of couple nights before. 

Gabriel took us to pancake breakfasts at the Methodist church. He took us to soup and salad lunches at the Lutheran church and the monthly steak fry at the VFW.   At these events we couldn’t talk very much with Gabriel because everyone stopped to say hello to him and check us out, the new comers.  He always made us feel welcome and the fact that Gabriel introduced us gave us credibility.

The husband soon learned to field dress and process a deer, clean a fish and butcher a chicken.  I have learned about the effects of our winters on spring plantings, when the Orioles will be nesting and when to plant my vegetable garden.

So, if you find your self moving to an unfamiliar area, find a mentor.  Befriend someone who can show you around.  Ask your neighbors about the best place to buy gas or a good BBQ.