GRAVETTE — Cows are bawling at every fence corner around the country. Hay is scarce and grass is about nonexistent. We had a good wet summer last year, grass grew good and we could not get a time to cut hay. Now the hay yards are partially empty and most of the men in the cattle business in the region have empty pockets. It is hard to borrow on cattle right now, even to feed them.
Cattle prices are up some and fat cattle are doing rather well. Of course, I have none in that category. My close relative is always after me to send a load and because it is so difficult for me to get a load that is pretty uniform, I hesitate. Maybe this year.
I do enjoy looking at the cattle that are ours. Well, I like to look at all the cattle. The auctions on the RFD TV are hard to resist; I could sit and watch them for hours. I can bid from the living room and it doesn’t cost a thing! I also like to drive along and see who has what kind of bovine in their care. Some folks like speckled, some colored, some humped and eared and who knows shat some of the choice four legged things are.
I finished the checking chores and drove on down to the coffee emporium. There were lots of trucks around the place and several lined up to load feed at the feed store. I think spring is waking folks up a little earlier and it feels good to get out and feel the breeze on their faces. I saw that local dairyman hauling about a trailer load of mineral out of town. He is getting thinner by the year. It takes a tremendous amount of willpower and stamina to do his job and I thank himand others like him.
The round table was fairly loaded with empty pie plates when I arrived. I figure the retired fellers had been there long enough to have most of the coconut pie consumed, if not all of it! Willy Dill said he had two pieces just to see if he still liked it! The talk of the day was earthquakes and, believe me, the experience level on that subject was pretty thin. But, as I ordered my least favorite pie, cherry, they all chimed in with opinions.
We are safe here. That was the only consensus of the debate. They all knew we couldn’t ever be shaken by a quake because one had never and never would come here. It was a comforting thought. I sure would hate to see all the skyscrapers in our town fall! (Tongue in cheek).
Speaking of disasters, the two big quakes have certainly shaken my emotional and compassionate bones. How many souls have been taken that knew our Lord and how many that did not? Sure rattles my cage and it should yours.
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, fellers should apologize profusely when they eat all the coconut pie, tell the best jokes or get the highest price for their calves before their compadres even get a chance. I might fix their wagons, I just won’t tell what my calves bring and my close relative makes good pie at my house! Else I can check half the herd and go on to town! Life is hard!
-Bill
Bill is a pen name used by the Gravette author of this weekly column.
Opinion, Pages 4 on 03/17/2010