what am I doing here?

A little while ago, the phone rang on a Sunday afternoon.

The older male voice asked: Is K there?
I answered: No - but could I take a message for him?
And the older man asked if K might be interested in selling any of those donkeys that he's got.

As though I was the maid, answering the phone.

And so I answered: Well, first of all, they are MY donkeys so if you wanted to know if they were for sale you'd really better ask me since K doesn't actually get an opinion on whether they get sold.

Silence on the other end of the phone.

Well, came a stuttering confused voice, I just wanted to know if he'd be willing to sell any of them.

So I explained again, politely that I would consider breeding one of them but none of the donkeys out there were for sale.

I think he gave up a little then and though he didn't ever address me or ask my name, he did ask me what a miniature donkey is worth. I explained how it works in the donkey world and the cost you might incur. I also let him know where we purchased our donkeys from. He mumbled a thank you and that was the end of the conversation.

As soon as I had a dialtone again I phoned K. 'Someone wants to buy MY donkeys!! and he was planning to ask YOU if that was ok!'

K laughed. In our household, its pretty clear who wears the pants (and I prefer jeans actually) but I live plunked down in the middle of this piece of prairie where there are still plenty of men who do not address a woman, who do not acknowledge that she might have an opinion (or nine), who assume a woman has no decision making power in a marriage. And then - they run into me.

I can't help but wonder sometimes how I ended up here. I think I do this on purpose - I deliberately put myself in situations where I am obviously the only odd fish in the bowl.

Perhaps I'm part of God's rural education plan.