Old Barns and Country Roads

My curiosity stretches far beyond all of the things I love about technology. Essentially, if I encounter something and don't have a clear understanding of how it works, I will delve deeper until I gain some knowledge that I can file away in my mind for later reference.

This applies to almost everything, including mechanical, electronic, and machinery, as well as nature, history, science, and more. When I am traveling down a country road and see an old barn, my imagination kicks into high gear.

First, I reflect on the craftsmanship and wonder how long the barn has been standing. Next, my imagination begins to peel back the layers of history, and I begin to imagine what that structure looked like on the day the last nail was driven for its construction.

Then, I begin to imagine the hard-working men and women who spent countless days and hours performing back-breaking work to build it. I imagine how many times they had to sharpen their hand saws and how many nails were driven by their tired arms. I admire the work ethic of those men and women, something that has been greatly diluted in today's society.

I begin to imagine how many generations benefited from the construction of that old barn and the animals that found shelter there. I imagine the children who learned how to work the farm with their dad, in hopes of one day raising a family on a farm of their own. I imagine the decades of laughter, as well as all of the grief and sadness seen by that old barn.

Needless to say, I have a great appreciation for history and American craftsmanship. I appreciate the generations of men and women who came before us and all of the hardship they endured to make America the greatest country on earth.

If you ever find yourself on a road trip with me, and we are traveling down an old country road, you know where my mind will be.