First and for most, this is a letter to all of the friends, relatives and concerned citizens who called with concern about my husband after the accident that occurred in the early hours Sunday morning.

Thank you so much for all of your cares and concerns. It was greatly appreciated. It gave us a scare, that’s for sure. But as the old saying goes, your danged if you do and your danged if you don’t.

Most of you all know the accident occurred Sunday morning when my husband was out getting an early start trying to finish up planting corn before the rain moved in around 6 a.m. Due to the tremendous amount of rainfall we have already had in 2010, we as farmers have to work when we get the chance. However, it has come to my attention that many of you had a problem with my husband’s choice to plant corn this early in the day. That goes to show just how much people know and understand about the way agriculture works.

I guess the food in the grocery stores that we all eat just magically appears there everyday. Raising our children in this community where agriculture plays such a huge role, you would think more people could understand.

However, I as a farmer’s wife who also works in the fields along side my husband knows exactly what it takes to get the crops planted and harvested in a timely manner. The weather has no switch, you can’t cut it off or cut in on. If that were the case, us farmers could grow bumper crops every year. And wouldn’t need any irrigation.

But most of you who criticized my husband’s intelligence are what I refer to as table-talkers. You know who you are, the ones who sit at the same table every morning for breakfast and every day at lunch. And count the hours in the day before you get to go back to that table.

It’s pretty amusing to me because there is always one of you who let’s your gossip out. Always remember gossip travels faster than any news. But the funniest thing of all is on the days you can’t make it to that table, you’re the one who’s being talked about. And that my friend goes to show you who your friends are. But if it makes you feel any better, my husband and I are never offered a seat at the table, so we’re not talking about you. So when you’re sitting there tomorrow, please give us Birdsongs a rest.

I always tell everybody that as long as you’re talking about us, you’re giving someone else a rest. But you know I think it’s time you all give us a rest.

I guess last week’s conversation was “Is Lance still farming?” Well he answered that question for you.

Now you table-talkers are putting him down for working too early in the morning or too late at night. There is no winning with you guys.

Come on, get a life. I bet you haven’t seen my husband out at all of your hangouts for the past 10 years because he was at home with his wife and family where a good man should be! Maybe you all should stop beating him down and join him.

Thanks,Hannah BirdsongBainbridge, Ga.