Why is it that cows have such a way of staring at you with their dark brown eyes that communicates both ambivalence and mild amusement? A few weeks ago I was acting very much like a non-Vermonter and desperately searching for cell phone service down the dirt roads near my house. Having seen a promising online coverage map that revealed there might be service at end of the lane and into the woods (and over the river), I hopped on one of our rusty retro bikes and charged down the lane. As I balanced the bike while holding my cell phone aloft, I had no thought of who might be watching my silly attempts to receive one bar- just one bar! -of reception. Frustrated with the lies of the Verizon coverage map, I sighed and turned to find several sets of eyes staring at me. Four jersey cows watched me and blinked as if to say, "What are you doing, silly person? And why do you need that silly gadget in your hand?"
"What are you looking at?" I retorted to the cows. But they only smiled and continued to stare. A little perturbed at their rudeness, I continued my quest. However, it was to no avail. Spotty and shifting reception was all that materialized from my frantic bike trip.
Finally I had to laugh at what a perfect juxtaposition that this scene held- my desperate attempts to use technology even at the edge of a quiet pasture of cows. The Vermonter in me was appalled at my failure to take things as they come and actually enjoy my walk down the lane with stunning mountain views surrounding me. So I couldn't get a text at the edge of the field, so what?
Dully reminded of the limits of technology, I placed my phone in my pocket, waved to the cows and enjoyed the rambling walk home.
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