The Stranger at 2:00
By: Dr. Greg Quakenbush, Geissler Corp., & Dr. Doug Ford, Production Animal Consultation
As I pulled into the corner of the walnut grove I noticed that the outside temperature registered 100 degrees on the pickup thermometer. The day was hot and getting hotter and the 2nd leaf walnuts seemed to enjoy and revel in the hot weather. They were putting on a growth spurt somewhat reminiscent of field corn. I got out of the truck and dropped the tailgate to provide my lithe frame some support as I sat down and switched into my work boots. As I was finishing up, the Queensland Heeler behind the adjacent neighbor’s fence began barking incessantly while running back and forth as fast and as far as the fence would allow. I knew the dog was not barking at me, yet I could not figure out what had her so excited. I followed her line of vision and focus into the young stand of walnut trees and I saw nothing. As more time passed, her barking and pacing became even more intense. I looked again into the field, staring and searching to see what had possibly set this dog off. Suddenly, my eye caught a slight movement about 80 yards out. As I followed the movement through the trees I became able to make out the profile of a man walking all alone through the grove. As he came to the end of the tree row he turned in my direction and started to walk along the highway. As I watched him slowly approach I was wondering why anyone would be all alone in this heat, walking somewhat aimlessly through the fields. What kind of mischief had this guy been up to… and why was he in my grove? As he walked closer I notice that he looked dirty and had on ill-fitting, somewhat sloppy clothes. My experience, which has taken me from rural America to New York City and back, first tagged this individual as possibly a “homeless” person. “Homeless” certainly does not make sense in a rural setting on a hot day, but I saw no other explanation. Having been “ambushed” in the past by people at gas stations who invariably have a worn-out vehicle, a sad story, and naturally no money, I imagined that he was possibly going to hit me up for a similar shakedown. My imagination continued its course bringing to mind those crusty looking individuals found at certain intersections, walking the line of idling cars stopped at the intersection begging for money. Typically they communicate via a cardboard sign that succinctly explains their situation and need. The messages are almost universally similar as they explain they have fallen on hard times, are a veteran, lost their job, are hungry, etc. Many, but not all, classically end their cardboard tweet with
“God Bless”. A closing statement that seems somewhat full of contradictions. As the stranger drew closer, I awoke from my daydreaming and continued to go about my work somewhat purposefully moving away from his path. As he came upon my truck he passed behind it and went directly to the neighbor’s domestic well (outside the fence), turned on the faucet, and proceeded to take a long and well-needed drink. That’s bold of him I thought, but also certainly necessary as he had to be somewhat dehydrated after all of his walking. After getting his fill of water he turned off the tap, reversed course and headed back along the same path that had brought him to the well. As he passed behind my truck yet again I looked back his way to hear him call to me, “Sir?” “Yes,” I cautiously replied. “Would you happen to have the time?” “Just a little after 2:00, I responded.” “Thank you,” he politely offered and continued on his way. As I continued with my work I kept close tabs on him as he followed the highway back along the route from which he came. At about the 80-yard marker he made an abrupt 90-degree turn and headed back into the grove. From my vantage point the tree branches made it a little difficult to follow him as he continued walking. I lost track of him for a moment and then to my surprise I found him on his knees, seemingly stroking his hands up and down around the base of the tree. “What the heck is he doing?” my mind asked. “This is beyond strange. Why is he seemingly molesting my young tree? Is he digging a hole? What is going on?” I was now far more intense and focused than the Queensland had been. I moved a bit to obtain a less obstructed view… and then with better positioning, the awful truth finally came into full view. My supposed homeless loner, my self-imagined grifter… was out painting (whitewashing) my tree trunks. Whitewashing the trunks of young fruit and nut trees serves the purpose of reducing sunburn and stress created by extensive sun exposure. Just like cattle can suffer under an unrelenting hot sun, so can young trees. I had forgotten that my farm manager and I had just discussed the week before the need to get these young trees painted and protected as soon as possible. When I finally understood why he was there and what he was doing, I felt a sense of regret and shame. Shame on my part because I had incorrectly prejudged this individual and regret because I had let selfishness temporarily blind me and alter my priorities. Selfishness is a signal that I have an ownership problem. pacdvms.com 29
