The Last Ride (Long Winded)

stitch · 10-21-2009, 01:43 PM

What a great time the last few days have been,
I signed on for a short “Last drive” with the “26” and officially told the cattlemen’s Assn. to take my name off the call list because I was retiring from steer bustin.
Well someone made some phone calls … The drive was moved up to Saturday because the weather was drop dead perfect and some city folk were guestin’ at the ranch.
By Sunday afternoon we’d brought in 300 head like a bunch of rootin tootin cowboys and put on a bit of a show for the ranch guests … Always Fun.
As I’m getting ready to pack up I recognize a truck and trailer in the lot, My old pard “Cash” is there!
Cash is from New Mexico, he’s in his 70’s and has rode just about every brand in the West at one time or another, He’s an old school Cowboy’s Cowboy.
As I’m getting ready to ask him just what in theeee hell he’s doing there a little boy of about 10 or 12 years old walks up to us two old farts and says “Excuse me sir, But are you two really cowboys?”
Cash looks at the kid and says “Well son, I’m just a beat up old man” then he slaps my back and says
“This feller here, Now he’s a real Cowboy” … That coming from the man that I consider to be THE Cowboy about brought a lump to my throat. The youngster asks if he can have his picture taken with us and we oblige … Wow talk about a humbling experience.
Cash then tells me to just load up in his truck that were going for a ride, And that my Wife already knows I’ll be gone for a couple more days. ….Hmmmmmm.
We head out towards Hoops grazing lands in New Mexico and are soon on a two track headed out on the plateau, We pull up to a ready made camp where I find Hoop, Rooster and AJ from Kingman,
Pete from up in Seligman and Roy and Dick from Round Valley / Red Hill.
Now, mind you Cowboy’s are NOT sentimental types, We don’t tear up over stuff, we don’t give each other “Man Hugs” But we also don’t say goodbye. …Be seein’ ya pard .
They tell me that this is a retirement party of sorts, they figure I needed one since when I got drug through 300 yards of fence line by a pack of half crazed steers back in 95’ and was just too stupid and hard headed to quit then that maybe if they did this I’d wake up and smell the coffee and get the hint.
Damn but we had a good time, By day we rode leisurely out on the plateau and chased coyote’s and jack Rabbits …By night we ate Jack Rabbit stew and drank enough whiskey to float an armada !
We talked, we reminisced …They put it all back into prospective for me.
Made me glad for who I was … And who I AM.
Though Hoop did tell me that Retired or not I wasn’t getting out of helping him every now and then.
This morning I found this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMko5...eature=related
Go have a listen for me, And raise a glass to old cowboys like Cash, Hoop and the rest of us.
A dieing breed who work in dust and rain to bring in America’s Beef Steak.

10-21-2009, 01:43 PM	#1
stitch Saddle Maker And Cowboy Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Diamond K Ranch Posts: 720 Trading: (34)	The Last Ride (Long Winded) What a great time the last few days have been, I signed on for a short “Last drive” with the “26” and officially told the cattlemen’s Assn. to take my name off the call list because I was retiring from steer bustin. Well someone made some phone calls … The drive was moved up to Saturday because the weather was drop dead perfect and some city folk were guestin’ at the ranch. By Sunday afternoon we’d brought in 300 head like a bunch of rootin tootin cowboys and put on a bit of a show for the ranch guests … Always Fun. As I’m getting ready to pack up I recognize a truck and trailer in the lot, My old pard “Cash” is there! Cash is from New Mexico, he’s in his 70’s and has rode just about every brand in the West at one time or another, He’s an old school Cowboy’s Cowboy. As I’m getting ready to ask him just what in theeee hell he’s doing there a little boy of about 10 or 12 years old walks up to us two old farts and says “Excuse me sir, But are you two really cowboys?” Cash looks at the kid and says “Well son, I’m just a beat up old man” then he slaps my back and says “This feller here, Now he’s a real Cowboy” … That coming from the man that I consider to be THE Cowboy about brought a lump to my throat. The youngster asks if he can have his picture taken with us and we oblige … Wow talk about a humbling experience. Cash then tells me to just load up in his truck that were going for a ride, And that my Wife already knows I’ll be gone for a couple more days. ….Hmmmmmm. We head out towards Hoops grazing lands in New Mexico and are soon on a two track headed out on the plateau, We pull up to a ready made camp where I find Hoop, Rooster and AJ from Kingman, Pete from up in Seligman and Roy and Dick from Round Valley / Red Hill. Now, mind you Cowboy’s are NOT sentimental types, We don’t tear up over stuff, we don’t give each other “Man Hugs” But we also don’t say goodbye. …Be seein’ ya pard . They tell me that this is a retirement party of sorts, they figure I needed one since when I got drug through 300 yards of fence line by a pack of half crazed steers back in 95’ and was just too stupid and hard headed to quit then that maybe if they did this I’d wake up and smell the coffee and get the hint. Damn but we had a good time, By day we rode leisurely out on the plateau and chased coyote’s and jack Rabbits …By night we ate Jack Rabbit stew and drank enough whiskey to float an armada ! We talked, we reminisced …They put it all back into prospective for me. Made me glad for who I was … And who I AM. Though Hoop did tell me that Retired or not I wasn’t getting out of helping him every now and then. This morning I found this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMko5...eature=related Go have a listen for me, And raise a glass to old cowboys like Cash, Hoop and the rest of us. A dieing breed who work in dust and rain to bring in America’s Beef Steak. __________________ Cowboy Wisdom: Ifin' ya get to thinkin yourself a might bit important, Try tellin someone else's dog what to do.