The family farm. Just the sound of it brings memories of a better time. A place where you can always go to escape the grind and unwind. A place to relax. Somewhere you feel secluded from the issues facing society. No car hornes no thumping stereos, just the sound of the breeze blowing through the leaves and birds chirping. For a while if only a short time you can forget the pressing issues and enjoy the freedom. Then the ENERGY COMPANY comes knocking. They realy do not even bother to knock. They barge right in like a home invader. They do not even bother to wipe their feet. Track their dirty boots right across your living room and in no uncertain terms inform you they are coming to visit and guess what...they are never going to leave. "We are here to destroy your property" they boast. "We are going to treat the land you have cared for for over a century as if it is our own". "But you have no right!!!" you exclaim. "oh yes...we have the right...it was given to us by the only entity with the power to do so. The same entity you think would protect your right." "How do you like it and what are you going to do about it?" "But before you answer we must make you aware we will slap you with a restraining order or a cease and decist if you so much as look at us or ours wrong." Do not dare stand in the way of progress. We know our solution to our problem should travel a different path yet we have made our decision and will press on with or without your approval.
We walk to the creek like we have done so many times before. Deeper into the woods where my people have hunted and fished and my children love to explore. No marked path is needed as we take turns leading through the underbrush. The most beautyful part of the whole farm and then you see what they have done. It looks as if a 20 foot wide tornado has crossed parallel to the creek. Twisted limbs and fallen trees lying in a tangled mess. Left and right for as far as you can see its trail leads. What could have caused such damage as this? What happened here? Then you notice some orange flagging tied to a little stake. They were here. Here on our family farm. Not only uninvited but cutting a swath of destruction from one end to the other and on to your neighbors family farm and their neighbors family farm and so on they go with no regard for the landscape much less the people who call it home. Surveyors of the decent type, the truly professional and honorable ones, take time to complete their work with as little destruction to the surroundings as possible. Not these guys. It is almost as if they want to make as big a mess as possible. As if they left you a calling card saying they were there and what are you going to do about it? You have been violated. Take it and do not dare stand in the way of progress.
