“now that’s the good stuff”
is a line many country fans would recognize
and a chorus I blissfully witnessed this afternoon…
as we were getting ready to close the store
Cowboy Dan asked: “y’all want to go with me to shoe a mule?”
my reply:
“of course my love, I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.”
liar
I could think of a bazillion and ONE other things I needed to do
but chose not to
because I knew without having to be told
Cowboy Dan wanted us to go with him
otherwise we wouldn’t have been invited (remember his love language? quality timer!)
so the rascals loaded up
I grabbed a couple of lap size dry erase boards & EXPO markers from my trunk for entertainment
a couple of random, leftover long sleeve shirts from the floorboard
and a baggie of old cookies I found in the trunk
just in case things got desperate
mommas of boys: you speak-uh my language??
because that’s the way this former public school teacher, mama-jama rolls!
the 45 minute drive out of town was much more pleasant than I had anticipated
spring popping up & sprouting out all around
the rascals laughed
Cowboy Dan & I chit-chatted
still trying to wrap our minds around our new lot in life
feed. seed. fertilizer. pesiticides.
we arrived by the hair of our chinny-chin-chins
just as the rascals were beginning to get restless
we parked
they BOLTED
Cowboy Dan unloaded his tools
while I greeted and began visiting with our dear old friend
Johnny is 82
He is one of the most pleasant people I know
He makes me smile
he’s tall, thin, and has a gentle, soothing voice
smiling always
a single, country boy at heart
riding still
this time instead of shoeing two
Love shod one
Johnny said “I’m cutting back but I’m not quittin'”
translation: he now works one mule instead of a pair
He’s scheduled to leave out a week from Sunday on a 5 day ride to Tennessee
sounds like cutting back to me?! HA!
riding 5 days
sleeping in a horse trailer/ready made camper
is paradise, a piece of cake, a walk in the park
as far as Johnny and his pals are concerned
while Love worked
Johnny talked
I listened
He’s seen it all
had it all
and lost lots in 82 years
lost his dad at 17
17 months later
he lost his mother
he’s outlived 3 sisters
lived through The Great Depression
endured many a day
without the luxury of power or running water
He’s worked for NASA
owned his own construction company and just about everything in between..
while I sat on the tailgate
savoring such wisdom
thoroughly enjoying our visit
watching the rascals
rolling down grassy hills
playing in the pond
Cowboy Dan finished up.
I loaded his tools
as two old souls walked around the corner of barn to say their farewells
the rascals brought me these
my heart full
I was reminded
now this
“is the good stuff”!