In Wright City, you could only enter a pasture through a barbed wire fence "gap".
Said "gap" was a hand constructed "gate" made from barbed wire.
Lots of folks constructed their fence "gaps" so that it was a relatively "easy" task to unlatch the gate, lay it down, and allow passage. I now think that to really know country folks, ya didn't look at their houses, ya eyeballed their fences.
I don't think the thought of "easy" ever entered my Grandaddy's head. When building his barbed wire pasture fences, he would string the galvanized concertina precisely spaced at a tension that would rival a bow fiddle. Given that propensity for tightness, why would he slack off on the "gap"?
If the space was 12 feet between the main "gap" posts, Grandaddy would naturally make his barbed wire gate no more than 11 feet. That meant that a boy knee high to a grasshopper would grunt, groan, and sputter to latch that sucka.
It weren't purty if them "gaps" didn't stay latched cuz Granvil would swat yor behind with a watermelon rind. Unlatched fence "gaps" meant Grandaddy's cows got out (Next thing to Armageddon!)(If we weren't so damn poor, I'm thinking we would have duct taped them gates??)
Take a full grown pickup, add three males. Now see the fight to over who got to drive and who sat in the middle of the seat. All that was left for the unlucky soul was the "shotgun" seat on the right passenger side. That would be the unfortunate mullet who had to get out, open and close Grandaddy's fence gaps, and pray for more fortunate seat placement on the next trip?
Ain't it sweet how a simple life can allow such simple memories?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
GRASSHOPPERS MEMORIES
One of my youth memories is of walking across hay fields and encountering billowing waves of grasshoppers. These undulating clouds of voracious ruminants caused shimmering sun reflection as their gossamer wings foretold the evolution of helicopter transport.
They would pelt against me from head to toe and come in tidal wave proportion for as long as I chose to traverse a cultivated field.
I remember capturing reluctant coastal bermuda soldiers and having their brown digestive juices "spit" upon my hands from prehistoric mandible jaws. I caressed their saw-blade hind legs and wondered at the intuitive wave of their cerebral antennae.
As an angler, I callously impaled their segmented abdomens with my barbed hooks to safari with red eared bream.
Those were times before I knew of locust pestilence that stripped nutritional fields of all sustenance. Likely I was not cognizant of biblical plagues or other omens of hard times.
I only knew that the sun was on my face, I was free from worry, and Panell's pond was on the horizon.
Would that I be able to recapture those days of incredibly simple excitement, joy of being alive, wonder of nature, and the sheer joy of things as simple as grasshoppers.
They would pelt against me from head to toe and come in tidal wave proportion for as long as I chose to traverse a cultivated field.
I remember capturing reluctant coastal bermuda soldiers and having their brown digestive juices "spit" upon my hands from prehistoric mandible jaws. I caressed their saw-blade hind legs and wondered at the intuitive wave of their cerebral antennae.
As an angler, I callously impaled their segmented abdomens with my barbed hooks to safari with red eared bream.
Those were times before I knew of locust pestilence that stripped nutritional fields of all sustenance. Likely I was not cognizant of biblical plagues or other omens of hard times.
I only knew that the sun was on my face, I was free from worry, and Panell's pond was on the horizon.
Would that I be able to recapture those days of incredibly simple excitement, joy of being alive, wonder of nature, and the sheer joy of things as simple as grasshoppers.
CLOSURE
I participated in the burial of one of my employees today. Not a stranger, not a casual acquaintance. A living, breathing person that I hired, mentored and attempted to lead.
He passed away four days ago. Attempting to attend to details and be a comfort to his family during this time of extreme emotional need has been a necessary, but challenging time for me.
The good news is that I have served in this role literally hundreds of times. Another words, I feel I can provide as much comfort and sanity as a layman can provide in such an emotionally devastating situation.
The less than good news is that it does not become routine, rote, or lacking sensitivity. It is cumulative. The more one bears the weight of the grief of others, the heavier the burden becomes.
I have comforted the loved ones of the newly deceased for more than 38 years as an employer of others. I accept and appreciate the gravity, solemnity, and spiritual obligation of the role. I simply have not discerned how to make it an easier burden for me to bear. I care, I mutually grieve, and I pray to my Lord for words of comfort to the bereaved.
The conclusion of today's services allowed me a sigh of relief, a time for quiet reflection, and closure.
Today we ended one chapter in a long book and opened the page of the next chapter.
Lord, I pray that you will allow me to be a facilitating comfort to all in need during their time of loss. Lord, I also selfishly pray that my time as a small humble source of that comfort include the blessing of Your strength to help me endure the burden of the grief of others.
He passed away four days ago. Attempting to attend to details and be a comfort to his family during this time of extreme emotional need has been a necessary, but challenging time for me.
The good news is that I have served in this role literally hundreds of times. Another words, I feel I can provide as much comfort and sanity as a layman can provide in such an emotionally devastating situation.
The less than good news is that it does not become routine, rote, or lacking sensitivity. It is cumulative. The more one bears the weight of the grief of others, the heavier the burden becomes.
I have comforted the loved ones of the newly deceased for more than 38 years as an employer of others. I accept and appreciate the gravity, solemnity, and spiritual obligation of the role. I simply have not discerned how to make it an easier burden for me to bear. I care, I mutually grieve, and I pray to my Lord for words of comfort to the bereaved.
The conclusion of today's services allowed me a sigh of relief, a time for quiet reflection, and closure.
Today we ended one chapter in a long book and opened the page of the next chapter.
Lord, I pray that you will allow me to be a facilitating comfort to all in need during their time of loss. Lord, I also selfishly pray that my time as a small humble source of that comfort include the blessing of Your strength to help me endure the burden of the grief of others.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
TOMORROW
One of my employees died of a heart attack early this morning. He was 41.
He leaves a wife and two small children.
I know that we have no promise of tomorrow. We only have today.
Today, I resolve to live each day as though it is my last. I am not going to put off things I deem important until tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come.
I resolve to tell all I love that I love them at every opportunity for I may not have the opportunity tomorrow.
I resolve to aggressively live, laugh, and be the best person and servant to my Lord that I can possibly be, because we have no promise of tomorrow.
Thank you Lord, for the blessing of today and all that is good in my life.
He leaves a wife and two small children.
I know that we have no promise of tomorrow. We only have today.
Today, I resolve to live each day as though it is my last. I am not going to put off things I deem important until tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come.
I resolve to tell all I love that I love them at every opportunity for I may not have the opportunity tomorrow.
I resolve to aggressively live, laugh, and be the best person and servant to my Lord that I can possibly be, because we have no promise of tomorrow.
Thank you Lord, for the blessing of today and all that is good in my life.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
BLOGGING
Ya know, this blogging thing is a bit of a catharsis.
It allows the ranch hand to vent, range ethereal, and blather with the mindless zombiness of intellectual vacuum.
That last part is likely my personal space.
If ya read my semi-daily dribble once, bless ya, and know that you have my everlasting apology.
If ya read this cyberspacial spittle more than once, you are on your own with no apologies.
It ain't Nobel and it ain't often intelligible so just suffer with me.
Yours Truly,
The Tin Star Ranch Hand Himself
It allows the ranch hand to vent, range ethereal, and blather with the mindless zombiness of intellectual vacuum.
That last part is likely my personal space.
If ya read my semi-daily dribble once, bless ya, and know that you have my everlasting apology.
If ya read this cyberspacial spittle more than once, you are on your own with no apologies.
It ain't Nobel and it ain't often intelligible so just suffer with me.
Yours Truly,
The Tin Star Ranch Hand Himself
RAT TEETH
Ya know, I ain't griped about draggin' sprinkler hose around my yard since - well - not long ago.
Just wanted to publicly announce that I still place that privilege near the elitism of a rat with a gold tooth. Nother words, who cares except the grass.
Ain't no nuggets of knowledge in this one. Just my continued frustration with "town living" that seems to include keeping a yard at a minimum level of prosperity.
Oh Lord, I yearn for the days when a seared brown yard is in harmony with the nature of the local terrain (and who cares that the neighbor's pasture is equally brown?)
Just wanted to publicly announce that I still place that privilege near the elitism of a rat with a gold tooth. Nother words, who cares except the grass.
Ain't no nuggets of knowledge in this one. Just my continued frustration with "town living" that seems to include keeping a yard at a minimum level of prosperity.
Oh Lord, I yearn for the days when a seared brown yard is in harmony with the nature of the local terrain (and who cares that the neighbor's pasture is equally brown?)
AWESOME STUFF
I ain't never custom built a house for me and mine. Never.
During the last year, my sister-law, brother-law, and mom-law have either occupied or are in the process of building a custom nest.
Me and the bride been "feeding" an architect to make that happen (over $3,000 at last count) and we are so close to startin' that I can smell it!
I'm thinkin' a reasonable goal will be to "break ground" in about 90 days. I am further cogitatin' that we can move in round bout 10 months from now. That's my butt talkin' cuz my brain tells me to add 60 to 90 days to anything the ranch hand prognosticates?
Wow, I can't think of the words to express how incredible it will be to actually live our dream of living full time on the TIN STAR RANCH.
Pretty awesome stuff!
During the last year, my sister-law, brother-law, and mom-law have either occupied or are in the process of building a custom nest.
Me and the bride been "feeding" an architect to make that happen (over $3,000 at last count) and we are so close to startin' that I can smell it!
I'm thinkin' a reasonable goal will be to "break ground" in about 90 days. I am further cogitatin' that we can move in round bout 10 months from now. That's my butt talkin' cuz my brain tells me to add 60 to 90 days to anything the ranch hand prognosticates?
Wow, I can't think of the words to express how incredible it will be to actually live our dream of living full time on the TIN STAR RANCH.
Pretty awesome stuff!
SAINTHOOD AND ICE CUBES
My mom-in-law was a guest for the last few days. She is a "saint". If she thinks you are in need, and she has the capacity to provide, you will be blessed. Don't matter if you are family, friend, or stranger. Her charity to those in need is only limited by her time and resources.
Did I mention she is a bit "deef". Nother words, she judges my hearing by the level of her hearing (yells a lot). As a bonus, (and to get my attention?) she starts every sentence by yelling, "HEY". I been wantin' to tell her that words that soak into your ears are whispered, not YELLED! Did I mention her "sainthood"?
Did I mention she is obsessed with watching the national news to be instantly alerted to any tragedy? I always figgered that most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway. I'm startin' to think that she considers the stuff that don't happen as a major disappointment. Did I mention her "sainthood"?
Did I mention she lives in mortal terror of interstate highways? Now I admit fear to snakes, heights, and dry counties, but damn, this "saint" will drive from Austin to North of Dallas and back to Austin to stay on the back roads.
Ever known anyone that obsesses for ice cubes? My personal "saint" wants her tea colder than a witch's titty in a brass bra doin' push-ups in the snow? She will NOT travel ten miles unless she has at least ten pounds of ice cubes in a cooler in the back seat. When she vacates my abode, she "vacates" the tray for my refrigerator ice maker to fill her road cooler for her chosen beverage of the day.
I could go on with this diatribe for the rest of the day, but I'll grant my reader(s?) blessed relief by simply saying, "DON'T JUDGE FOLKS BY THEIR RELATIVES" (meaning ME of course, as I would never be critical of an honest to goodness SAINT).
Did I mention she is a bit "deef". Nother words, she judges my hearing by the level of her hearing (yells a lot). As a bonus, (and to get my attention?) she starts every sentence by yelling, "HEY". I been wantin' to tell her that words that soak into your ears are whispered, not YELLED! Did I mention her "sainthood"?
Did I mention she is obsessed with watching the national news to be instantly alerted to any tragedy? I always figgered that most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway. I'm startin' to think that she considers the stuff that don't happen as a major disappointment. Did I mention her "sainthood"?
Did I mention she lives in mortal terror of interstate highways? Now I admit fear to snakes, heights, and dry counties, but damn, this "saint" will drive from Austin to North of Dallas and back to Austin to stay on the back roads.
Ever known anyone that obsesses for ice cubes? My personal "saint" wants her tea colder than a witch's titty in a brass bra doin' push-ups in the snow? She will NOT travel ten miles unless she has at least ten pounds of ice cubes in a cooler in the back seat. When she vacates my abode, she "vacates" the tray for my refrigerator ice maker to fill her road cooler for her chosen beverage of the day.
I could go on with this diatribe for the rest of the day, but I'll grant my reader(s?) blessed relief by simply saying, "DON'T JUDGE FOLKS BY THEIR RELATIVES" (meaning ME of course, as I would never be critical of an honest to goodness SAINT).
PROGRESS???
In my less affluent days I would trim the trees in my yard with a pole saw. Yeah, hold a long pole with a blade on the end up in the air and push and pull on it until a limb was severed.
This high tech methodology was alternated with some low tech stacking of the limbs to either burn or bundle to be hauled away. It was slow at its best, but the job eventually got done.
I now am the proud owner of a $617 Stihl motorized pole saw. It weighs roughly 20 times what my trusted manual model weighed. It also cost about 25 times what the old one cost.
I got out this morn in the front yard and with trembling arms (heavy saw) whacked down more limbs in an hour than I will be able to pick up during the rest of the week.
If the new tool weighs 20 times more and cost 25 time more (20X25=500), I guess that explains why I am feeling about 500 times dumber for changing the process?
This high tech methodology was alternated with some low tech stacking of the limbs to either burn or bundle to be hauled away. It was slow at its best, but the job eventually got done.
I now am the proud owner of a $617 Stihl motorized pole saw. It weighs roughly 20 times what my trusted manual model weighed. It also cost about 25 times what the old one cost.
I got out this morn in the front yard and with trembling arms (heavy saw) whacked down more limbs in an hour than I will be able to pick up during the rest of the week.
If the new tool weighs 20 times more and cost 25 time more (20X25=500), I guess that explains why I am feeling about 500 times dumber for changing the process?
Friday, August 8, 2008
SUBMARINE SCREENS
Committing personal errors used to grieve me beyond belief.
I would kick my own figurative butt from one side to the other and then do it again.
Aging/maturity ain't all bad.
I think I am finally figgering out that to err is simply human. Those who are a tad smarter than others tend to learn from their SNAFU's. Those that ain't tend to repeat history. I know this is kinda like putting gas in a car I done wrecked, but at least it's an improvement (right?)
I'm at a stage where I'm infinitely more forgiving of myself. I expect to screw up, but I feel it is OK as long as I learn. In other words, I try with all my might to not make the same mistakes twice.
It seems to be working, although some days I feel like I am trying to put a screen on a submarine?
I done figgered out that if I live to be 100, I might eventually have a modicum of common sense, or not?
I would kick my own figurative butt from one side to the other and then do it again.
Aging/maturity ain't all bad.
I think I am finally figgering out that to err is simply human. Those who are a tad smarter than others tend to learn from their SNAFU's. Those that ain't tend to repeat history. I know this is kinda like putting gas in a car I done wrecked, but at least it's an improvement (right?)
I'm at a stage where I'm infinitely more forgiving of myself. I expect to screw up, but I feel it is OK as long as I learn. In other words, I try with all my might to not make the same mistakes twice.
It seems to be working, although some days I feel like I am trying to put a screen on a submarine?
I done figgered out that if I live to be 100, I might eventually have a modicum of common sense, or not?
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