Rural Rants

By Mike Donahue
Moapa Valley Progress
Published June 2, 2010

Of the many perks we enjoy as rural residents of Southern Nevada, one of the best has to be contact and proximity with many of those with whom we share our neighborhoods, our lifestyle.

Granted, there are those who live down some streets or across some fields or around some corners with whom we’d rather not have contact, but in general, most of our neighbors are good people.

Two weeks ago, I wrote about young Christopher whose small bike was stolen from the bus stop where he parked it daily before boarding his bright yellow transport to school. Like a lot of kids in our rural environs, Chris believed his bike would be safe at the bus stop, simply because it was his. He expected when he got off the school bus at the end of the day, he would be able to jump on his bike and ride home.

Had anyone asked me, I would have enthusiastically agreed with him. After all, this is rural — honest country living if you will.

Unfortunately, we both learned otherwise when someone stopped on busy Moapa Valley Boulevard to load up Chris bike and steal way.

Since that rotten day some three weeks ago, however, when Chris got off the school bus only to discover an empty spot where he’d always previously found his waiting bike, Chris and I have learned something else – our belief in the goodness of our rural neighbors is not entirely misplaced.

When neighbors Mike and Dee Davis learned of the dastardly theft, they replaced Chris’s bike. No fanfare, no bologna, no kidding. They picked up a used bike somewhere and made Chris’s day. His ear-to-ear grin was all the reward they needed.

In seconds Chris was back on the road, pedaling for all he was worth – happiness restored.

Mike and Dee are the type of people we wish all our neighbors were. They retired a few years ago after a lifetime of hard work in Las Vegas. In short order they moved their horses, dogs, cats, cars and selves to Moapa Valley.

Among other things they like to shoot, four-wheel in the desert around the valley, fly model planes and, most of all, be good neighbors. They’re a success at most of the types of activities we ascribe to rural living.

Mike and Dee are friendly, gregarious and know more people in Moapa Valley than many of us who have lived here much, much longer. They rub shoulders with snowbirds, Nevada big shots and everyone in between and they treat them all the same – just like they like to be treated. They drive slow and easy on gravel roads, respecting that other residents don’t like dust any more than they do.

If actions speak louder than words, the couple’s deeds bellow like a herd of cattle. Among other things they have helped a neighbor rescue a family member stranded in the harsh Nevada outback and given a hand to a young girl two streets over looking for her first pickup truck.

Mike has a gentle touch whether it’s at the controls of a massive crane, rebuilding an antique car, flying a screaming model plane or feeding bird seed to the myriad of feathered inhabitants that live around the couple’s home. Dee’s hands are more adept on the reins of her quarter horses.

They’re the type of characters who give rural living its character. They’re what we call good people – real good people.

“Rural Rants” is a column about rural living and the people who live there. It appears the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Your comments and input are important and will be appreciated. Contact me via email at mouse@mvdsl.com.