A few weeks ago, my sweetie took me to a friend’s birthday in Washington D.C. I didn’t know anyone and ended up talking to a nice young man who had just found out he had been accepted to an Ivy League architecture school. He was really excited and very, very earnest and eventually got around to asking me what I do.
Now, you might think that over the past seven or eight years, I would have come up with a good way to answer this question. I mean, it comes up a lot. The thing is that whatever answer I give just tends to lead to more questions, and for some reason, the questions make me uncomfortable. Sometimes I say, “I’m a farmer” which is perfectly true, but doesn’t ring very true to me. I think because it brings to mind crops, or cattle or something. I have a huge amount of respect for farmers, but I don’t really self-identify as one.
Sometimes I just say something vague about being in the yarn business. Non-knitters don’t really have anywhere to go with this, which is fine, and knitters look at me like I’m made of cake, also fine. I’m happy to answer questions about my flock, my farm, my lifestyle. But, in all honesty, the ‘business’ part of “yarn business” doesn’t ring altogether true, either.
What I want to say when people ask me what I do, what I like to say and what feels like the most true answer is, “I’m a shepherd.” And the only reason I don’t usually say it is because every time I say it to a man- and I mean every single time- the gentleman smirks a bit and asks, “Do you have a crook?” To which I reply, “Yes. I do.” It’s annoying.
The fact is that most people have never met a shepherd and the idea seems sort of silly or precious. But shepherding is just the opposite. It a noble and serious profession dating back more than 6000 years. Being a shepherd means being responsible for the care of a flock and being a good steward of the lands they graze. It’s about surrendering yourself to the rhythms of the seasons, slowing your life down to match the the pace of the animals and being ever watchful, ever vigilant. It’s about putting the needs of flock first, doing your absolute best for them, and then worrying all the time anyway.
I’ve never felt like I became a shepherd when I got my sheep. It was more like I always was a shepherd and I didn’t know it until the sheep found me. They instantly gave my life a purpose and they’ve continued to do so every day since then. I am a shepherd to my boots. It isn’t glamorous or sexy or easy to explain, but it’s all I want to be.
So, when the earnest architect-to-be asked me what I do for living, I looked him in the eye and said, “I’m a shepherd.” And he surprised me. He smiled sweetly and said, “That’s really great. You should have business cards made and put ‘shepherd’ on them.”
I didn’t say anything. I just pulled one out of my wallet and gave it to him.
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Love it!!!
Great post!!
you are so fabulous my friend, i love this post! you should be proud of what you do…you rock as a shepherd! happy summer.
LOL!
I am a knitter. I will admit that when meeting someone involved in the yarn business I tend to get a giddy look on my face.
A Shepherd is an outstanding occupation, requiring a person with love, patience, knowledge, instinct, a strong stomach at times, goal oriented to produce the best flock with the best product and humane and we are truly grateful for you. Be proud. We are!
Love this post! You should be proud.
that’s a totally awesome story
i can identify with the frustration
of people not really having a grasp or understanding
of your passion and your job
it happens to me all too often
maybe i need a crook…
hope your eye is all better
had to take my pup to the vet today she had a little infection
wanted to nip it in the bud
beaming u lotsa love
rona
This is a perfect little story…the best day… when you are what you want to be… and it looks so good on you! I am happy that you are happy
Herd On!
I, too, identify with not having a great concise answer for the “What do you do?” question. “I design knitwear patterns based on my relatives” gets lots of odd looks. My friend has to answer “I’m a minister,” and in our subculture people think they’ve misheard. Another friend’s answer: “I run a hoola-hooping company.”
Love this post. If I were a shepherd I would keep spare copies of Far From the Madding Crowd around to remind me of the romance every once in a while.
Well written post! Awesome to know what you are and that it is what you were meant to do – have a definite title and to love what you do! Lucky girl!
Ooooo, I’m trying to imagine what your business cards look like! I LOVE this post. And, seriously, you have a crook? Do you have to use it?
Fabtastic post! So true. So ernest. So right.
You go Girl!! Sounds like you are finally feeling like you own those boots you like to wear. It is kind of a ‘coming of age’ thing… and you are there. Good on you for feeling comfortable enough in your skin to let it shine through so that others can see it too.
Great essay. Can’t wait til I can say something other than “I work in Family Court” – always gets a reaction, so I’ve taken to saying “I clean the food court at the mall”. Much easier
It’s similar to being a stay at home mom or owning a craft business. There’s always a stereo type and the feeling you need to sound glamorous some how or explain yourself. Then there’s just a day you stop it and people take you more seriously because of it.
Good for you!
(I’m surprised you didn’t respond to the smart alec comments “Why yes, and I also use it to strangle/thwap/beat (what ever suits your fancy) the twits that always ask silly questions like this.”
God, Susie. You’ve become such a part of my daily life that I forget what a freaking fantastic writer you are. damn.
Sometimes I think you actually ARE made of cake. I love cake.
It sounds kind of how I feel when I’m asked, and I get to say “I’m a mom.” No shame, just pride and thankfulness. Love you Susan
Excellent post and a wonderful story!
Whenever I talk about you – and I talk about you a lot – I refer to you as “my friend, the shepherd.”
BTW – my husband bought a crook at this years Maryland Sheep and Wool Fesitval – don’t know why – it spoke to him and he had to have it.
Stay cool…………
Peggy
**love(eleventy billion)**
I love you Susie. So much, And the “made of cake” line sent me into a fit of giggles. Now I love the architect for not being condescending.
my dad always said: when i retire, i want to be a shepherd. i’m sure he had a much more romantic swirl to it, but thanks for summing up, what that means to you! i think it’s great!
Also, upon being asked “do you have a crook?” I would be tempted to answer “yes, don’t make me use it.”
What you do is so important and so timeless that the word “shepherd” has also passed into the English language as a verb: to watch over carefully. You should be so proud of what you do, and to your connection to generations of shepherds who came before you and who did the same work you do. Wonderful!
I completely understand! I too work in a field that the “mainstream” world does not know how react to when I tell them what I do.
Of course, being a shepherd is an honest and noble profession. We need wool–not just for us knitters–but for other aspects of the textile industry, as well.
Yay for you! You are indeed a shepherd and how observant of you to recognize it in the beginning. Everyone should have a passion and how amazing that it also became your way of life. I’m thinking that just perhaps I’ll find mine some day. Or maybe my brain is just to scattered to fix on something. I know…my passion is playing!!
Over the weekend I met a friend-of-some-friends, someone whose name I’ve been hearing for a year or so, for the first time. She asked me about my work and I told her about this new job I have in the business school at UVa. And she said, “But I thought you were a shepherd?” (Clearly she’s been hearing my name too.)
And I thought, “Well, I am.” And I do believe that that is what I am, even if it’s not what I do right now. It’s as much a vocation as it is a profession. Thanks for this post that illuminates that so well!
i LOVE this! such a feel-good post.
i enjoy following your blog because it’s clear you’re passionate about what you do.
How wonderful for you that you have found your place in life .. you shouldn’t feel as tho you have to “explain” your life choices to others..most people only care for a minute or two anyway.. unfortunately as humans we care more about ourselves and what is happening in our immediate world than in anyone else’s.
Isn’t it time for a crook tattoo?
That is a BRILLIANT idea! BRILLIANT!
I’ve been working on my crook tattoo design for a few months…
Something tells me the “smirkers” were older than 30, right? I have found that today’s young people are way more open to a wider range of job titles. The fact that I know several 20-something and something-teen shepherds tells me that what you do is getting the attention it deserves. I hope you got that young man’s card in return. He’s going to go far with that wonderful attitude of his.
Laughing, combining twitter with this post. How about “The Real Shepherds of ….”? could have all those cool activities, hoof trimming, mucking out stalls, cleaning sheep poopie off your boots. It would be a big hit!
I am proud to say I am a shepherd and a fiber artist. That covers all the various things I do with the fleece – spinning, dyeing, knitting, weaving. If someone doesn’t understand the things that fill my soul, that’s on them, not me! And, yes, I have a crook too, and I know how to use it. Much more interesting to offer to show them how I use the banding tool (worked great when my daughter’s were starting to date!)
Great, great post. I also refer to you as “my friend, the shepherd”, I’d like to see your business cards, and no matter what the reactions you get are, it’s better than the glazed over far away look I get when I say “I do tech support and project management for a web based software development company.” Seriously, there is not a more boring answer. A mouthful too. You can use it sometime if you don’t feel like giving your real answer. Actually, then when they say, in a bored voice “Oh, really?” then you can say “Nah, I’m a shepherd.”
One of your best posts to date- and that’s saying a lot, because I think you’re a fantastic writer.
That is really sweet, but it got me thinking. Even though I am a knitter, if someone told me they were a shepherd, I would think they were a minister or pastor. (& I am Jewish
)
LOL.
Fantastic post. What a great story.
Originally coming from a very rural region in Germany I imagine you would also get strange answers to the “I’m a shepherd” over here – because in summertime there are still shepherds itinerating with their flocks. So everybody would imagine you itinerating with your flock and your crook
Go on with what you do. Because you’re good at it and you do it with passion – and that’s a gift.
And it’s pure pleasure to follow the life on you farm. Thanks for all the great pictures you show us.
Well said! Years ago I started writing shepherd on the line where it says “Occupation”. Though people are often surprised, most seem intrigued by the idea, and want some explanation. I figure I’m just helping educate people about a different (and wonderful) way of life.
Thank you. I often find my self being apologetic when I say a do marketing. But no more!! I’m a marketer and I’m proud of it. Now off to make up some clever business cards : )
I love you!
I must admit I do think you are made of cake, for being a shepherd! I’m so delighted to read this post. I hope someday to meet you and shake your hand.
Told you yesterday about the still itinerating shepherds in Germany. Found a picture and an article in an online-news-magazin today:
http://www.tagesschau.de/multimedia/bilder/bilderderwoche202_mtb-1_pos-14.html
1. The hat is NOT characteristic for German shepherds.
2. The text says that the young man is travelling with 200 sheep (nothing about the breed) through Germany. He is participating in a relay that takes place from June to October 2010. Shepherds will travel with their flocks across entire Europe. The aim is to show the people how the business situation of a shepherd looks like nowadays, under with cicumstances the shepherds are working today, how important their work is and where the benefits are.
3. Sorry for that poor translation.
I join the ranks of the I-love-this-post crowd! karla
Ha! That is so awesome.
this is so perfect! really, it brought tears to my eyes. It’s so good to know that we all have a place, and that hopefully we can be so lucky as to have someone to watch over each of us so carefully.
Loved reading your post – awesome story!
Hey… so am I! It took me a long time to grow into the title. It hit me on August 27, 2006: http://tinyurl.com/3alyq6h . Thank you for reminding me of the dignity, the blessing, and the bliss of the job.
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