THIS IS NOT NEW YORK

One of the many professional mentors (and boss) I have had in my lifetime was R.F. Shadoin.  Mr. Shadoin was the Vice-president of the bank where I worked-- long enough to figure out I needed to return to school and finish my degree.  My favorite Mr. Shad story has to do with New York Prime Rate.  For all you non-business people out there--New York Prime Rate is the rate charged in the banking industry for the best of their clients.  It is the benchmark for the beginning of rates charged for borrowing money.  


Mr. Shad had a client come in to negotiate making a loan.  As the rate for lending was discussed, the client informed Mr. Shad  what the current New York Prime Rate was.  Mr. Shad never missed a beat--telling the client


"This is not New York and you are not prime."

Drum roll and cymbal crash!  Nothing else need be said.



Ruston is a FAR cry from New York.  No offense to you New Yorkers, but for that I am thankful.  One lesson I have learned from living in the Big City--you absolutely feel invisible quite a bit.  Going about your day to day business it would be more unusual to see someone you know than to be negotiating the crowd of strangers you are always surrounded by.  While there can be a certain freedom in being invisible, it also can leave one feeling quite detached and alone.  There is no greater reminder of one's aloneness than walking among strangers.


The beauty of small town life is you are NEVER truly alone.  I have not been a single place in almost a month that I was not recognized.  I have hugged more necks in three weeks than I have in the past four years.  As I recognize--I am also recognized.


God created us to live in community and with community comes relationships.  A basic need of mankind is the recognition which comes with relationships.  We all want someone to love us--be our friend--desire our presence.  Truly-no man is an island.


It is life giving to know we are recognized and appreciated for who we are.  One of the greatest things about the past four years has been really thinking about who I am.  Such a happy surprise to finally determine-- I like me!  Though I certainly have plenty of  short comings and would never be accused of being at the top of the heap, I now understand and am very satisfied with being in the middle.  With this recognition of not being "Prime", I have learned to embrace The Middle of the Pack.  There is security among numbers and what greater safety than being smack dab in the middle of things?



I am thankful for God's gift of the friendships I have here in Ruston.  I am thankful for recognition as I go about the day to day. I am thankful for being in the midst of small town life here in Ruston.  But I also am thankful even in the midst of strangers--He recognizes me, He seeks me, and He considers me prime.  What a gift and blessing--to always be thought of as prime.


The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;
 he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love;
 he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

9 comments

  1. Generally speaking I agree with you Lulu. No one is an island and it is great to have friends.

    Although, from experience, being a miserable person myself, totally devoid of all prejudice I might add; I dislike everyone equally. I have discovered long ago that my friends always want to borrow something, like the lawnmower for instance, or some garden implement. I have put a big notice on my house saying "FREE HARDWARE STORE". It makes it feel more homely when the whole neighbourhood of frineds comes around wanting something.

    A friend in need is a pain in the backside. Why can't my friends borrow from each other and leave me alone?

    Last birthday I invited them all round to meet for a party at a well known pub. They all turned up and I stayed at home watching the football on TV. Best birthday I ever had.

    God bless you, Lulu. Are you still my friend? You can borrow the lawnmower if you wish.

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  2. You are my first laugh of the day, most days, Victor! Would you mind making a few rounds with your mower in my yard when you bring it over?
    Blessings, My Friend!

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    1. Hi Lulu,

      I have just checked with the Travel Agent. It would be OK for me to come over to you, my health allowing. But they said it would cost too much to bring the lawnmower. Besides, they explained that the electric lead is not long enough for me to plug the mower in the socket at my house and cut the grass in your garden. They suggested it would be cheaper all round for you to send me your garden over to my place for me to cut the grass and return it to you.

      My Travel Agent doubles up as a Garden Advisor as well as all-round seller of tall tales. Short tales are now totally sold out due to shortage of staff. They will emply taller staff soon.

      God bless.

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    2. SORRY ... I meant to say "employ" but one of their staff has stolen the O to use as a seat softener because he has a pain in the backside. Probably one of my so called friends.

      God bless.

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    3. Laughing AGAIN, Victor!!! I will look into shipping my sod across the pond!

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  3. You will never find me living in a large city...and for petes sake (giggling and smiles) don't group all of us New Yorkers together, NYC is 6 hours east. Those folks down there drain us --NYC is not the state of New York, lolololol. We live in farm country and no high risers here, unless you go to Rochester or Buffalo.

    Another great post, my friend.

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    1. When #1 Daughter lived in Erie, I few out of Buffalo once. Beautiful country as we toured in that direction a couple of more times! NO it is NOT NYC!!
      Blessings!

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  4. This post brought a smile to this former New-Yorker!

    We are a unique breed, indeed.

    ;-}

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    1. It is beautiful up there---UNTIL it starts to snow---NO THANK YOU!
      Blessings!

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Your comments keep my writing and often cause me to think. A written form of a hug or a pat on the back and an occasional slap into reality---I treasure them all!