Lynda's reasoning is more intuitive.
"Ranching gets in your blood. I'm like my father," she
says, "I like the dirt."
"The only reason ranchers
are ranchers is because they like the lifestyle. Not everybody
can live this way. It takes a special kind of person," says
Gordon. What kind of person? Gordon believes you have to be easy-going
and adaptable. Al, more specific than his father, says, "You
have to be frugal, a jack-of-all-trades, and resourceful. These
days you have to be a businessman with modern business management
skills. That wasn't as important years ago."
"Oh no," says Mary.
"We never had a lot of business things to deal with! I was
washing clothes with the tub and the scrub board the first time
the income tax man with all his papers came to the house.
 |
He
said, `Is Elmer home?' |
|
I
says, `No.' |
|
He
says, `I belong to Internal Revenue.' |
|
I
didn't know what that was. We got talking and he said,
`Well, maybe you can help me. Did you file the income
tax?' |
|
I
said, `Yes…oh, you're from the Income Tax.
Well, you come in!' I got scared then! |
|
He
said, `I got it right here.' He handed me a form
with red ink all put underneath.
I was terrified. I thought I was going to go to jail. |
|
He
said, `Are you sure you spent money like this?
Where's your ledger? These figures are too even.
You've been guessing.' |
|
But
I said, `No, no! It's all in my diary.'
I found out later he went down to my neighbour's
and asked to see her ledger. Hers was in her corn popper. |
|
He
said, `Are you sure you paid this for grain?' |
|
I said, "That was all the money we
had!' |
|
`Didn't
you get some books in the mail?' |
|
I
said, `I guess so.' |
|
`Did
you read them?' |
|
`No,'
I said. |
|
`You
should have a book with ledger and figures.
Next time I come I want to see a book with everything in it.
I better leave you some books.' |
|
I
was thinking, `I wish you'd go because my
wash water is getting cold.' |
|
Then
he said, `Do you know if there's any place
to eat around here?' |
|
I
said, `No, there isn't.' |
|
`Would
you mind making me a little lunch
and a cup of tea?' |
|
`Well,'
I said, "It won't be much!' |
After he ate he said, `I get paid
for my expenses,' and offered me money but I wouldn't take it."
|
These
days you have to have modern business management skills.
"I was washing clothes with the tub and
the scrub board the first time the income tax man with all
his papers came to the house."
|
