Still learning after all these years

Living in the Shenandoah Valley seems be a continuous education for me.

Never before had I encountered a horse and buggy on the road prior to moving here. Now, as I travel around Dayton, buggies are routine. No longer am I surprised when a tractor or horse goes past my house, deep within a residential neighborhood.

After more than a decade in the Valley I thought I had grown used to the rural life. But my education continued recently at, of all places, a shopping mall.

The day was warmer than it had been, which brought a multitude of shoppers to the stores. Walking through the parking lot, I heard sounds coming from a nearby pickup truck.

Was it a couple of rowdy dogs I heard?

I moved a little closer to listen.

Baa! Was the sound emanating from the back of the truck.

Baa?

I can truly say that sound was one of the last I expected to hear in a suburban parking lot.

I peeked inside the truck’s shell and saw several lambs milling around.

Sheep. In the city.

Apparently I still have much to learn about things around here.

I can’t help but wonder what else life in the Valley will teach me. It’s one of the reasons I love living here.