OPINION? EVERYBODY HAS ONE: I may not be able to predict the future, but I'm sure I wasn't wrong!

One time, a few years back, I was accused of being wrong. That has always been a barb under my saddle. And, would you believe it happened again this morning? Yep, my close relative said that at the breakfast table - said she thought I was wrong! Hurt my pride aright smart but, being a grown and proud man, I did not cry or bang on the table.

I deliberately poured myself another cup of coffee and sat there in stony silence except for the methodical slurping of my saucered coffee. That drives some folks to grinding their teeth! My mission complete, I arose, got my hat and pulled it down real tight and left the premises.

I know the weather has been strange and I could have bred all the cows on this rock pile to freshen the first of February, but I didn’t and that is that! If I could tell what the weather was gonna do a year in advance, I would be the richest gentleman cattleman in the entire world. But, beings as I cain’t (spelling is correct), I am accused of being wrong! My nose is sorta out of joint over the whole deal.

I went on to the calving trap where I was sure I’d find some problem that would be due to the month of February, but all was fine. The calves, all 16 of them, were running around or milking or sleeping in the morning sunshine. Such a beautiful picture, it about made me sick! All these gorgeous little black babies were the offspring of bulls I could never afford to own and the crop was 100 percent!

I sat around there about an hour just watching and wondering what kind of lesson I was supposed to learn from this experience. I am not too profound a man, but I do think and I read all the articles I can find about raising cattle. I have never read or been told that our area will be a perfect climate for calving in February.

I am wondering what the norm will be like this fall when my September calves start hitting the ground. Do you suppose it will be so hot and dry, fly problem at the top of the spectrum, ticks carrying alien diseases, and feed and hay too high to buy? Dang me, I should try that deal of changing around once in a while! Or maybe not!

It is my opinion, and everybody has one, there probably isn’t a man on the face of this planet that can make the perfect call every time. We strive to be right, we try to do the best for our business and we have been known to lay awake nights considering. Then things play out and we are able to see what we might have done differently. But I will not say I made a mistake. I will agree that this has been a typically different year.

Sure hope I have something for supper that does not come in a little box from the freezer!

Bill is a pen name used by the Gravette author of this weekly column.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 03/06/2013