My close relative had a busy weekend planned, and I was toted around like a sack of taters! I ate Friday night at a bonfi re wiener roast and Saturday noon at our Grands hot dog stand so we could donate to something. Saturday night we ate cornbread and beans at a Fall Festival so we coulddonate to something else, and Sunday noon we had a huge meal at church. I ate very little on Monday!
This is a fine time of the year. It is cooling down but not yet cold, and maybe the grass will slow down growing but it is still green. Football games are on the agenda and, since we havea couple of Grands playing, we are at all of them. I visit with a bunch of the fellers and enjoy the outing until one of the players lies still after a pile up! I am sorta wishing they wouldn’t be so rough and maybe play touch football!
Old Snip had a spell of sneezing and coughing and I thought he needed something for it. Had my vet stop by and look at him. Sure enough, he had fever and got a shot. Now that is not an easy job, even for a dog-gentle old horse like Snip. He took umbrage at the temp taking and tried tobite me and the vet. I never fail to tell the Grands that they had better remember that, even if they dearly love that horse, remember he is still a horse! Kid ponies are wonderful, but they are still animals and will sometimes act like one!
I took the vet in for pie and coffee after the ordeal and we had a nice visit. He said allergies are rampant this fall, even have some cattle breaking out in hives due to allergies. Old Dog is OK, getting older and less active but not breaking out. He doesn’t even break out of a slow walk for biscuits!
The Grands were excused from school on Columbus Day. I do not understand why. I don’t need to understand, just do what I am told! We rode horses, drove fourwheelers, ate at my close relative’s table, laughed and loved! Even the oldest of the bunch came and enjoyed the fun. When the day fi nally started winding down, we played Trivial Pursuit and I lost again. I enjoyed watching the offspring playing ball with the Grands about as much as anything. The female offspring even got in on the game.
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, I don’t want to live to be 110 because of the infirmities that would present themselves at that age. I do not want the grief of funerals, economic disasters and heartaches, but I know they will come. I do want to live to a ripe old age and enjoy all the things a wonderful family produces! I want to be here for the grandbabies, the graduations from college and all the weddings. I do want to enjoy all the fun I can stand before cashing in!
Bill is the pen name used by the Gravette author of this weekly column.
Opinion, Pages 4 on 10/23/2013