Wordless Wednesday - ""My Space"
I know no one wants a Wordless Wednesday entry today... we all just want to go hug Boomer and play STICK.
<You must spell it STICK...
because Boomer is SOOOOO intense about it...
It simply MUST be in CAPS.
STICK!>
But life on a ranch goes on...
steadily...
onward.
Today grain is being thrashed, equipment is being repaired, cattle are being salted and checked upon, and weeds are being surveyed.
There is to this life and this land a solidness that becomes a part of you. You know that pain of loss, or injury, or sadness, will pass. The land continues on everyday. Everyday you do what it takes to go forward... a repair to the combine, so the grain can be harvested, so the cattle can eat grain this winter when it's -30, so that the cows make it through the winter in good shape, so that they have good healthy calves in the spring, so that we succeed in selling good beef to feed this country (as well as all the other benefits gained from cattle).
In our tiny little corner, we are happier because we have one of our partners back. We are thrilled that he is here to go irrigating, or move cattle, or just play STICK for a while longer.
But we would have gone on had the ending been different.
We would have mourned in our own ways...
We still would have thrashed, repaired, salted, checked, and surveyed today.
That is LIFE.
Out here, perhaps we're a little closer to the rough edges of it all.
We meet it daily.
Being able to share with you the small victories in this life has made this experience very special. I do so thank you for your caring, for your concern, for your unexpected depth of feeling for a strange little dog (and I do mean that in more ways than one!) in the middle of Wyoming.
I'm glad I decided to share My Space with all of you...
Carol,
I think for all of us who have the loss and pain in our everyday lives, but not the closeness to life and the land that you do, you gave us a good story with a happy ending to rejoice in. Thank you for that.
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great post & photo
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Beautifully written. Thanks for the picture. Yes, we all share in this special dog and all others. They do touch our hearts. That is one of the best things about animals....
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So well written! I'm going to read this to Sage when she gets home from school. Two days ago she was riding her horse and he went down on her and died. As he was coming down, he made sure that she could get off his back so he wouldn't crush her on the way down! It's her first experience with death so the way you wrote about going on and life is a perfect illustration of what I have been trying to convey to her. One of the most important lessons in life is to learn that even if "the ending had been different," you can still move on, you will be okay.
Take care!
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Oh, Alisa, I'm so sorry for Sage! She's awfully young to have to learn this hard lesson... but I'm glad I could help just a little!
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"...closer to the rough edges of it all."
Beautifully written.
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As a farm girl myself I do understand your sentiments- my grandfather always warned as we were burying animals (pets or not) that "if you're gonna have animals they're gonna die on ya- you mights as well git used to it and not waste your tears" He's right- but I still mourn as needed, more for my beloved border collie, less for that danged rooster that chased me out of the barn again but mourn as needed and move on. You put it so much more eloquently than I am struggling to do- thank you for expressing what you did! And I am glad you did not need to mourn Boomer!
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The cycle you described today was so moving, so ordinary and so real. The grain - the winter - the cattle - the beef - the living, the dying. Sometimes it's hard and meaningless and seems like such a grind. Then there are the rich and joyful days (or even moments) that make the grind not just bearable but divine. Thank you for your perspective, I just love it.
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I am glad you share with us too. It helps me remember what's important and to brush off the minor slights. Love the pics. Like church.
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