OPINION? Everybody Has One!!

— I am very aware of the pioneers that came west to settle this country. Even more so this morning as I hustled to the old hay truck, got out the battery charger, worked for half an hour to get things hooked up and then waited for the truck to actually start. I fed Snip and checked his water, shamed old Dog for laying in the hay while I was working out in the cold and, by that time, the truck did start.

Can you imagine hooking up a team, taking your material belongings and your family on an unknown trail? The weather could turn sour like this weeks at a moment’s notice. How on earth did they keep from freezing to death? Those folks were tough and I for one appreciate them today.

I have tried to see in my mind’s eye the Sioux families as they lived through the winters in teepees. Babies were born, deaths occurred, hunger must have presented its ugly head and even their horses suffered greatly. Yes, I am very grateful I have a dry, warm home and all the conveniences I am afforded. So is our family, and they don’t hesitate to say so. My close relative made sure her offspring knew of the hardships suffered by others so we could have what we do.

I got the hay loaded and took off to feed the first bunch when I thought I heard something that didn’t sound just right. Sure enough, so much mud had been flung up under the fender the tires were rubbing on it. That mud was hard as cured cement and the rubber was stinking by the time I stopped. Thankful for the leather gloves, I am!

It was getting on up in the day by the time I finished of theing and the offspring had dropped by to visit. They are always so full of information and most of it bad. I guess the water line to the automatic water fountains in the steer pasture was frozen and we would need to dig it up to thaw it out. Oh, Goody! Love digging frozen ground.

I dug and they dug, we got down a couple of inches or so and I figured loading the water tank and hauling it would be faster and a heck of a lot easier on me. We knew about where the line would freeze and I might get the blow torch and heat up the ground there. I sent them to do the hard work and I went back to the shop for the torch.

I got the torch lit and was happily warming up the dirt when I realized my pant leg was on fire. I slapped that flame out and dang if I hadn’t got the grass on fire. I stomped that out and the offspring showed up with a water tank. No, they didn’t say a word but the snickering was disgusting.

I got the fires out, pulled on my gloves again after stopping a few minutes to catch my breath. I grabbed the flame thrower and realized I had wasted all the fuel. I was through.

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, the only good thing about winter is that it doesn’t last any longer than it does. Snow is only pretty when it’s melting and snowmen are not cute with dirt mixed in their heads and rocks for teeth. Everything suffers but I guess that makes us appreciate the warm weather even more.

No, it doesn’t. It is human nature to gripe and bellyache about almost everything. It will be too dang hot and dry before long. Thank you, Lord!

-Bill

Opinion, Pages 4 on 01/13/2010