Running Water...

At dinner yesterday my sister in-law told a story that got me thinking. She lives in a very small town (like 10 houses) that is surrounded by farms, but also by many large towns. They still have the big propane tanks, wells and sump pumps. Well anyway she said one of her neighbors had always cut the grass on this small strip of land near her house that has a very old pump on it. After years of this she decided to find out who's land that was. Well come to find out that it belongs to the community and used to be the only source of water for the town. And it is still a community owned parcel. hmmm...

So she jokingly told all the neighbors they needed to take turns mowing this small strip of land. I chuckled a little at that. But then got to thinking. She lives with 30 minutes of me, but she cant get cable, high speed internet (besides satellite), natural gas, water or sewage services. A couple things came to me as I thought about this though.

First, what lies around each of us that is a sign of changes that have left a well pump that we maintain, that we have no idea what its for, how it got there and who owns it? Over time things change and some things loose their purpose, but how often do we go back and review those things and see what got left behind?

Second, it made me wonder as I sat with my Treo, cable internet, laptop, PC, wireless internet, MP3 players, XBOX live, and all my other gadgets, do I take for granted the access to all of this that I have? And yes, I have seen all the discussions about Digital Divide and access for all, but that isn't my point. I tend to take for granted that everyone understands the internet and uses it on a regular basis. And that everyone has years of experience with these gadgets. And that all of this is important to everyone. But maybe it is too much to fast when it comes to technology for most people. My parents still don't have cable, internet or a cell phone each.

Maybe time is moving too fast and the world is full of these pockets of land with well pumps on them that have been left behind, forgotten and ignored. We move so fast and expect so much that we miss the simplicity of life, who will mow the grass on the community property???