See You On Down the Oregon Trail

My mother and grandmother spent the last week or so at the I Tell You What residence. It was a great visit. We normally drive out to Michigan to visit them, and the simple act of traveling 900+ miles in a car seat leaves our daughter ragged before we even arrive. Then throw in excited relatives, sleeping in unfamiliar beds, and the occasional travel sickness, and it can be wearying. In other words, it was very convenient for us to be the hosts this time around. Sweetness slept well every night, didn't have eat a single happy meal, and got her naps in. Her personality has really developed, and it was great to see her interact with her grandmother and great-grandmother. Except for her pleading with them to stay up later when her evil father was putting her to bed. Of course, it was also the first time anybody from my extended family met Sarah Joy. This was also great, because she's a very happy baby, and looks eerily like my father. My grandmother also had time to tell a lot of stories from when she was younger. I heard a lot of stories about family members who I never even met, and a few about family members that I am familiar with. I was dismayed to discover that my ancestors from that side of the family came from... (sob)... Canada. I'm still not over that one. I like to pretend that they headed straight to Buffalo, NY, from Ellis Island, then marched through Ontario before realizing they had committed a navigational error, and crossing back to Detroit. One thing that was abundantly clear: life in rural places was hard work. If a person lectures you about how easy you've got it, they are simply a scold and you wish they would leave. If you ask them to tell you, it's enriching. These people lived an existence that was a struggle to keep your head above water, but every action toward preparing for the next season was a fruitful one. You busted your tail, hopefully avoided disasters beyond your control, harvested, and prepared for the next planting season. A trivial comparison that keeps coming to mind is Oregon Trail. You get cholera, the kids get dysentery or break legs, and your wagon wheel falls off. Then you spend 3 days hunting and only get some rabbits and squirrels. And all that is just to have the chance... to bust your tail farming on the West Coast instead of in Missouri.
I think there are still plenty of pitfalls in modern life. It's just that those pitfalls can not be avoided or overcome through physical vitality and work ethic. Is your 401K money invested prudently? Is your home worth less than you bought it for? Is the cost of living overwhelming your stagnant wages, in addition to having added children to your family? Do you work year-round, when even a farmer could cool his heels during winter? At times, it can seem preferable to take your chances going to bed exhausted from outdoor work, free from concerns about your child's down-the-road college education, and thankful that nobody has fallen sick that day.