I started back at school today and it was really great to see everyone, especially Gretchen who I only saw once during vacation because she went to New Mexico and Colorado to see family. She told me that her Mom is thinking about moving back to New Mexico because she hates her job here and can't find anything better. I was very upset when I heard this and asked Gretchen what she thought and she seemed to upset to think (or talk) about moving again. She told me a couple of months ago that she wishes she could stay in one place for just one whole school year, but that her Mom is a 'wanderer' who gets bored of places very quickly. I told my Mom this and she looked sad for me, but she said "maybe Gretchen's Mom will come to her senses". "I hope so", I said. Anyways, it kind of ruined my first day back to school, but Gretchen and I talked during lunch and she made me feel a little better, but mostly she was a little surprised that I cared so much and I think it actually made her feel good too. We shared an ice cream bar (our favorite thing to do) and I told her about Minnesota and my family there. She told me about New Mexico and seeing old friends who missed her and want her to move back, which made me unhappy again, so we stopped talking and just finished the ice cream. "Sometimes it is ok not to talk", as Grandpa likes to say (which is strange for an actor).
Dad tried to get my mind off of things when I got home by giving me a picture of him from a magazine advertisement he did in the 1990's. It made me laugh a bit because Dad was skinnier then and seemed a lot younger. "It is amazing what a camera can do" said Dad and I told him that it is a good place to start for my ancestor project this semester; That and Grandpa Jessie and Mom's family. He said that it took all day to shoot this one picture because they kept making him change his shirt and hat because no one could agree about what color he should wear or whether he should wear a long-sleeve shirt or a short sleeve shirt. They even tried using different backgrounds and when Dad received the magazine in the mail it turned out to be black and white. "It figures" Dad said, "They waste more time and money bickering about color and they end up not using any". Dad still does modeling work and occasionally does "voice-overs", but now he has gotten more into working with community groups that help protect the land from "greedy people". Dad says that his "community work", as he calls it, has hurt his ability to get "commercial" work because business people are starting to realize that Dad is speaking out against some businesses and it makes him less of a "rugged cowboy that just stomps on everything". I didn't really understand this, but I guess it seems like two different things to help the community and also to help sell pants and boots, but I don't know why he can't do both. "It is a little tricky", Dad said, "but you'll understand someday". I hate it when people say that because it is not enough for me or perhaps I was still upset because of what Gretchen told me, but I kind of snapped "Just try to explain it better!" i said. Dad gave me a look like he was going to send me to my room, but stopped and said "Let me explain it so you'll understand better", which surprised me. He said that the people who pay him to sell tires or western clothes hire him because he is the son of a famous cowboy movie star and that "rural" people will buy the products not because they are "good quality at a good price", but because a famous cowboy or son of a famous cowboy uses them. "I understand that part" I said. Then he said that "cowboys aren't supposed to care about the environment or anything for that matter...except maybe pickup trucks and the flag". This sounded really strange to me because "cowboys are always outside" I said. Dad just shook his head and said "I know son, but things in the world don't always make sense". That seemed like the best way to explain my whole day in general. At least we are having cheeseburgers for dinner.
"Rural" means "in, relating to, or characteristic of the countryside rather than the town" and its only use listed is "the rural backdrop was filmed in Georgia".