I Get to Wear Pants.
Jersey Cow
Many years ago, when I was just a little girl, I remember Big Gramma telling me how she loved going out to the barn to milk cows.
‘No way. Why?’ I was scared of cows. Period. Milking a cow sounded anything but fun to me.
“Two reasons.” said Gramma. ” I get a nice break when I sit down on the milk stool. I lean my head on the cow’s flank and disappear into it’s warmth, the rhythm of my hands coaxing the warm milk into the pail on the floor between my feet. Secondly, I get to wear pants.”
“Huh?”
She went on to tell me how both farm men and women worked equally hard in those early days. However, men were able to move through their day in comfortable pants and shirts while women had to wear dresses.
Dresses were fussy to put on and hot and bothersome to wear while doing so much physical work.
It frustrated her no end until she found a solution.
Gramma was an accomplished seamstress. Using a pair of mens pants as a guide, adjusting the design to create a better fit for her body shape, she made a pair of work pants for herself. No more cumbersome skirts tripping her up as she managed milk stools. She’d now be wearing pants to milk or not milking at all.
I remember the tone of her voice as she told me this story. It was calm, quiet, matter of fact. She simply found her own creative way to turn a job that had to be done into a job she loved to do.
Here’s hoping that 2011 will bring us all practice at turning our own jobs that must be done into jobs we love to do.
How does your Inner Genius, Creativity, Pursuit of Meaning, Success Experience and Lizard Brain connect naturally? Find out at dawnkotzer.com. Dawn Kotzer is a Certified Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach, Modern Muse Group Facilitator and Certified Martha Beck Life Coach, Artist thriving in Saskatchewan.
Comments (10)
Dawn, I love the idea of your grandmother turning this chore into a pleasure. Love how she appreciated the cow’s warmth and the rhythm of milking. What a great example of being present and finding joy in the process.
I actually have a task I’m getting out of right now by reading your blog, LOL. I’m going to take a moment and come up with how I can “wear pants” while doing it!
Thanks Sue. Here’s to ‘wearing pants and lovin’ it.’
Loved this, Dawnbob! You come from a long line of creatives… it’s in your genes/jeans! And honestly… I said thank you to my comfortable sage green corduroy pants several times today. Love your writings… please keep ’em coming, please!
Hiya jewelz! genes, jeans, beautiful jeans, huh? thanks for reading.
A wonderful memory and a poignant reminder to be grateful for the little things. We take for granted the fact that we can wear comfortable jeans or hop in our car and buy a gallon of milk at the drop of a hat. It’s good to stop and realize how blessed we are for even these seemingly small conveniences. Thanks for sharing this!
Reminders are a beautiful thing, aren’t they? thanks Jill.
What a wonderful post, Dawn! I love your Big Gramma’s creativity and courage. I’m sure it took her some courage to think outside of the box and to follow what made sense to her. What a great example to follow! Thank you for this!
Creativity and Courage. Bingo. It seems like she discovered ‘how’ she did something was as important as ‘why’ it. thanks for ‘being’ ginnete 🙂
Love the story Dawn. What a cool ‘Big Gramma’ you had. And how clever of her to find her way to ‘wearing the pants’. Also. How she let herself enjoy the comfort and flow of the moment with the cow. I could see it. I could hear that milk hit the can with that sharp whish. Got some comfy clothes on. peas n luv. jeanne
Glad you enjoyed this, jeanne. Interesting how this story from 30 odd years ago resurfaces as fuel for creativity.