A recent trip to the nation’s capital made me think of a children’s story my mother used to recount to me, “The City Mouse and the Country Mouse.”  If you don’t know it, here is a recap: A poor country mouse was visited by his cousin who lived in the city.  When the city cousin saw the country mouse’s meager meal and simple accommodations, he stated that ‘where he lives, he feasts on cheese, fish and bread, each being brought right to him.’ So, the two went off to the prosperous city.  The wide-eyed country mouse got a great tour of house and the table of leftover food, but just then when they were about to eat, in came the cat! The country mouse escaped with his life saying, ‘Thank you, but I’ll take my humble crumbs in comfort over all your finery with fear.’

“The Country Mouse and the City Mouse” limited edition giclee canvas print

The other day, I felt like that country mouse…wide eyed with wonder as I walked through the big city, that needed crossing guards at each intersection.  They looked sharp in their uniforms, armed with a whistle in their mouths, barking high pitched commands to us, the pedestrians and the traffic, oddly comfortable amidst the multitudes of cars speeding around them.

Since moving to Maine, I was surprisingly impressed by the capital’s display of restaurants, from Portuguese to Chinese dim sum.   I was stunned by the size of the auditorium that could hold tens of thousands of people.  I enjoyed the expertise and education of the medical conference that I attended.  I couldn’t help myself as I took pictures of the inspiring monuments honoring our nation’s founding fathers, reminding us of our citizen’s sacrifices in war, and I even took pictures of the art in the lobby of one of the hotels.

Chinatown in Washington D.C.

Growing up in New York City, I found myself appreciating the fine qualities of city living, until it was time to take the metro.  Mind you, as a teenager, I had to take the subway round trip each day to attend high school, so, I should have been right at home.  Public transportation saves time and money, usually… but, as my colleague and I got on the wrong train we added almost an hour to our trip, our appointment and evening was almost ruined.  We got tangled in the complexity of an urban planner’s idea of a “well thought out” system.  The stress and the frustration, all of a sudden, outweighed the city’s finery.

The Metro

The next couple of days, I decided to remember why I moved out of the city: The crisp air, and the dew covered grass (currently snow covered) that greets me each morning when it is my turn to do chores in the barn.  I would walk across the small field, feeling as if I had just woke up from a day of camping outside.  The rising fresh sun welcoming me along the horizon, the earthy smell of life in the barn.

Sun setting behind our barn

In addition, I don’t want to forget the warm community that surrounds you while living in a small town.  Your grocery bagger knows you from church and takes your items to the car. The gas stations pump the gas for you, as a curtesy, not expecting a tip…

Yes, I love travelling, I appreciate the nation’s capital, I enjoy visiting New York City… but can a city mouse turn into a country mouse?  Yes, she can.