We still have the steers, and they are to be loaded this weekend. All the family has been here and are wanting to come back for the day since it will be on a Saturday, but sometimes wanting to and doing are miles apart. That is the story with the college grand, and I am sorry but his education is for other than producing beef! My close relative has put the word out about a chili dinner with pie desserts and that sure suits me.
The weather has been fine, and I figure it is gonna change soon. Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature the calendar says January. I remember a few warm ones and then February froze for the entire month. It is sure hard on the plants to have such spring-like temps and then the temp fall to the below zero numbers.
Dave Goudy, a nephew of old Doc Goudy, dropped by yesterday. He is still buying and selling horses and chewing that old Red Man. I had to show him the remuda and could have sold the good roping horse. I never would price him because I was afraid he would take him. My grandson would be pretty upset if he lost that horse. The little paint pony and the other two kid horses are priceless to us here on the rockpile. You can get a high dollar for almost any good trained kid horse, and then there is Snip.
Dave chewed and spit, shifted from one foot to another as we stood at the fence looking at the horses. We talked about the old days, before his time mostly, but he had heard all the old stories. My pappy and his great uncle stirred up lots of dust many moons ago. The truth of the whole thing is that I love telling and hearing the old tales over and over. And the drawl of Dave's was pleasant to hear, just a little different than the local one where we live.
I didn't sell anything and he wouldn't stay for lunch, but it was a nice visit.
The offspring showed up and we ate lunch just before the phone call telling us that a far neighbor was in the hospital and in dire shape. My close relative took the message and said we would be glad to help. We are to be at their place at 1 p.m tomorrow to get the cattle gathered and ship some of the calves. The feller seems to be on the low side of recovery and his son and wife want to get rid of the stock.
I took that as a warning and told the family one more time that they had better not start selling cattle when I check out. They just laughed, and my close relative arched those eyebrows and stated something under her breath!
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, the selling of cattle while the owner is still warm is probably a vile and evil thing to do. I know that prayer can help a feller and some come back from the edge with a new lease on life. We just need to not give up or doubt until the end is there. Don't shoot the cow until you try her one more time! And I sure believe our Lord can do whatever he sees necessary, so don't jump ahead of him!
Keep those red long johns ready!
Bill is the pen name used by the Gravette-area author of this weekly column.
Editorial on 01/15/2020