Meat

This is not in sequence of events, but it's on my mind this morning so I'm going to write about it.

The veil has come off my eyes about what I buy and what I spend. Who decided I should shop at Mega-Mart? I mean really. I found myself logging in more hours at the local Mega-Mart than even I feel comfortable with. Something about it was pissing me off internally and I didn't know it. I'd walk in the store angry and leave feeling even more angry and had no clue it was environmental. Changing an environment though is something I did have control over. I however, was clueless I was in the middle of being controlled.

Controlled? Yes... I do believe I was! My power to decide was gone. My ability to choose was gone as well. Slave? Well, Yes! For lack of better words, this is how it felt.

After plunking down $230.00 in groceries and extras one day at Mega-Mart, something happened to me. What you say? Sort of like a mini-explosion in my head. The kind when you have gone to a car dealership and realize after signing the papers for a car; you have just paid too much. This begun the revolution for Change.

The myth of our Economy being in trouble is a bunch of bull-malarkey. What's in trouble is our personal freedom and our ability to think, act and care for ourselves. I'm not one to talk about government conspiracy or act "green" (trust me here). I've found conspiracy theorists to be radical and boring. And "green" crap? Well, it's just that (That's another blog). However, our freedom being changed by what's offered in stores is yet another way we are controlled.

OK, let me pose this to you like it was to me. If Mega-Marts closed down tomorrow or their computers failed, where would you buy your food or clothing or anything else you need? Do you have a quick answer? I didn't... This pissed me off some more. I'd become "Owner Operated"! You can ask my Mother, I normally revolt against control. Here I was though, A full grown free thinking adult controlled by a conglomerate; who's becoming more rich and powerful day-by-day with my money.

Breaking free:

So, I hear a buzzing sound.... What is it? It's the "void sound" of the now empty mind, which is free of the noise of the overhead closed circuit TV channeling advertisements into my unaware brain as I shop mindlessly at my local Mega-Mart. Drone? Yep. I think so!

Then a little voice pops up. It said, "Hey, we are out of veggies"... Ten minutes later I find myself at the local fruit and veggie stand picking up some stuff for dinner. I smell a whiff of something on the air... I think it smells like Freedom but I'm too unsure what that feels like, so I ignore it (Yes it's a metaphor. Stay with me here). Change is afoot.

The Child:

"Mom?"... Yes dear? "I'm not going to eat meat anymore" Huh?

So, this statement rocked my planet. The world crashed... I died... You don't see the blood and guts, just the vacant look of some poor sad parent; lost in bewilderment; knowing they have lost the resemblance of normalcy in their life.

"Would you like to explain this to me dear?", is about all I can mutter.

She goes on to explain how cruelty and inhumanly the animals we eat are treated (inwardly I sigh and think, "Oh god here we go again"). I know she's right but what the hell can I do about it? I mean really!

After a few weeks of struggling with her about food choices, what I should and should not buy, and that she can't eat this or that; I tell her to figure out how to take care of herself. Mostly because I am unable to keep up with her demands of how I should now feed the family. I feel totally frustrated and really angry inside. I've been posed with a problem and can find no immediate solution.

She eventually finds she can't live as a vegetarian either, so we are now both equally frustrated.

Now, I did listen to her and really tried to help out. However, in my researching "animal friendly" resources for food, the frustration levels exacerbate. I'd called about every "free range", "grass fed", "green growing" place on the internet to find some sort of meat she will eat at a price I can afford. Whew... Shoot me now huh? It's just easier!

However... "I smell a whiff of something on the air... I think it smells like Freedom but I'm too unsure what that feels like so I ignore it"...

The Meat Manager:

"Buzz Buzz" sings the little electric bell calling the meat manager to the window of our local meat shop. Looking into the window of the swinging door beyond where I am standing I see a lady about my age who is cutting up some huge hunks of beef. She moves in my direction. Inwardly I sigh and hope this goes well, but I feel so awkward forming the words I need to say.

When she reaches the front desk I just blurt out the truth. "I have a daughter who's refusing to eat anything with a face who's been tortured..." (laughing inside I feel like a nut case). Thankfully she grins (which is really the reaction I was shooting for with my honesty). After a moment of the "parent faces" which lets me know she understands, I move onto my actual story. 

Afterward she nodded, smiled and went on to explain to me that she had a similar problem with her kids  and that for a long time she looked until she found a Ranch in Colorado who had grass fed, free ranging cattle who would sell to her at a price she could afford to resell to the public. It took a while but it paid off in the quality of beef she sells. Wonderful Angus Beef with no guilt and at a price I can afford! Finally!

Not only was her business local, she was a hometown girl. This sounds a lot like supporting the local economy to me.

We've been buying her beef now for the last six months and we are quite happy. No more meat from Mega-Mart or any other Mart...

Step One to Freedom... Can you smell it? I can...

The fact that this change came as a result to my daughter being angry at the treatment of animals we ate was a bit sad for me. It took her to make me see. Oh, I'm no fanatic, and perhaps I should be? I'm not sure yet. That's still evolving. But, what I do know, is that I was no longer supporting a conglomerate store which had me spending money "hand over fist" buying meat I really didn't like to begin with. I also had a wonderful experience every time I went to my local meat shop. She has so much she can do for us with her resources. I'm excited again buying food for my family! Wow... Imagine That! I'm excited buying food. That's a long lost feeling.