I Chose The Back Road to Save Time

 Yesterday was one of those beautiful September mornings.

I was running about five minutes late to pick up a friend

and get her to work.

However, I always build an extra fifteen minutes into this trip 

since we have to go through the city of Lancaster to her workplace

so this left me ten minutes of wiggle room.

I dodged some road construction with a sigh of relief and took 

a small back road to cut off the corner of our normal route.

Alas, up ahead the gate was open and an Amish woman was

signaling for me to slow.

I stopped pretty far back as I expected cows to cross the road 

in front of me and then for her to close that gate and 

I would be on my way.

However, that is not what would happen.

In fact, nothing happened.

I eased up toward her and she came to my car.

She said some cows had escaped and were on the road up

over the hill.

Someone was up there rounding them up and I should wait 

so I didn't hit them.

O.k.

That sounded like a good idea.

I asked her how many cows got out.

She didn't know.

Well, that seemed like a complication to me.

How do you know you have them all if  you don't know how 

many are out?

But, I couldn't do anything about it so just sat still.

After a few minutes heads appeared over the hill.

Those crazy cows!

They were in NO hurry to get back into their pasture.

But they knew where they were supposed to be.

A teenage girl came behind them with a real sense of authority

and letting those cows know she wasn't taking anything from them.

Stragglers got redirected.

I didn't count but I think there were at least twenty rogue cows out there.

I seriously love cows.

They are such social creatures!

I visit the ones across the street from us occasionally.

I sent one of these photos to Mindy, who was waiting for me

and she hooted with laughter.

"Only in Lancaster" was her response to me.

It took less than the extra ten minutes I had to spare and these 

cows were back in their proper pasture.

This Amish Mama apologized for the delay and I didn't even 

bother to tell her that it had made my day.

I just smiled and waved.

Figured it hadn't made hers....

I am very thankful that she noticed that little one she is holding 

was coming onto the road behind my car at one point.

That was a scary moment as another car was coming up behind us.

Just look at that scene....

who wouldn't love living here???

Our traffic jams are just a bit different.