When I was a youngster, my Pappy sang a song about a cowboy that was gonna go home when the work was all done in the fall. It was a sure sad little ditty, the lonesome drawn-out chords made a kid have chill bumps as the words declared the poor feller's need to go see his dear mother. The death of the feller could draw a tear from a wizened old cowpoke, let alone a youth. I remember the words, every one of them.
The work is about done this fall. Shoot, we could work 10 hour days and never really get caught up, just like all the cattlemen in this great country. We do put in many hours, and then memory brings up a tune from long ago. Life is pretty short for us, unlike the folks in Noah's day. I decided it was time to take a couple of days and go to a place where the past is honored.
I loaded up the bags and my close relative and we took off for an adventure. Old Dog was watching us leave and I am sure he will be mad when we get home because he didn't get an invite. The Grands will take care of Dog and Snip. I am sure, between the offspring and Grands, all will be fine.
I sure enough enjoy good museums and I had been told about the one at Woolaroc by several friends. We had been to the tall grass country several years ago and enjoyed seeing the bison and that nice piece of land. It surely is a beautiful place and any rancher would enjoy seeing the grass waving in the breeze.
I suspect you remember that I am not the most comfortable person in a motel or hotel room. I am sure that whoever spent the night before was dirty and that the maids didn't change the sheets and the blankets. I am not going to put my bare feet on a carpet that could have been sneezed on by a carrier of bubonic plague or an ordinary cold. I don't open the door without a bleach filled wipe to clean anything an earlier resident might have touched or even looked at! My close relative gets sorta disgusted but she allows me the condition without much static.
We stayed in a nice place after the drive, and I didn't develop any diseases that I know of. We visited the museum and it took us most of the day to see the wonderful collections of art and priceless sculptures. The artifacts of the past amaze me and make me proud to be a person with close ties to so many of them.
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, saving the egg and cream money for a short trip is sure enough a good idea. I believe it will curl your lips up in a smile even if they naturally drift down in a snarl. Just seeing new country helps my disposition, and my close relative actually relaxed. We need to go on about our working and living lives, but it sure helps to get a break! I have decided to take up on another song I heard. The music was nice and I finally listened to the words. Yes, I believe I intend to live like I am dying from now on!
Bill is the pen name used by the Gravette-area author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 11/25/2015