"The Positive Aspect of Negative Thinking"

As I've mentioned at least 30 times in this space before, we live in what I consider to be the middle of nowhere. Although I've adjusted to the lack of ameneties in our community (in that there's very little development less than ten miles from our house, at least), I'll probably never conquer my fear of hillbilly folk.

For example, we have neighbors who live spread out over at least three trailers with four times as many vehicles scattered throughout the property — all broken down with weeds pulling them into the earth. There is probably more junk on this one acre of property than in all of the Smithsonian museums combined.

Everytime I drive past this particular compound (again, our "neighborhood" has several, so you gotta be specific when referring to them) whoever is out on the property stops what they're doing and stares, mouth agape, as if the sight of a car is completely unexpected on this regularly trafficked stretch of road. It's downright creepy. I'm trying my best not to judge these people, because there's nothing that says my style of life is better than theirs — just different...really really different — but it's hard, to say the least to not think that I'm better'n 'em.

Today, Connor and I spent a few hours at the lake, swimming at a nearby recreation area that has a beach, picnic tables and a newly erected playground. Surrounding us, were at least 20 of the very same, reclusive mountain folk that scare the shit out of me. Two kids were "fishing" with sticks, string and Wonderbread. Two kids were playing "drown the other one before he gets you first." Several parents were huddled around the concrete picnic tables, chain smoking, along with a few kids who looked all of 16 years old.

Also, several parents were floating carelessly into deep water on half-inflated pool floats while their kids (the oldest of whom couldn't have been more than four) played at the water's edge, occasionally venturing far enough into the water to warrant a scolding from a half-interested parent. I must have looked like the overprotective father to these people, never getting more than a foot or two away from Connor — especially when he started trying to swim in water over his head.

By the way, how do parents who let small children get so far away from them AT THE LAKE still have children in the first place?! Am I really that out of touch?

Anyway, I'm scared of white people. It doesn't make the the first, I guess.