AN OLD COWHAND GIVES ADVICE

The "old cowhand" speaks:

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Th' other day, after I had sold some eggs, I was settin'

in Moe's Bar,  in Pine Flats, the onliest village

and bar down in the Magdalenas, SW of Socorro, NM.

I was having a well-earned cerveza, and rest from

runnin' my little 160 acre homestead---a big job---

even with my few cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and 

chickens.... trying to eke out a living...just like all 

critters, human and otherwise....yes...a living...

Particularly was it hard, since Pearl, my dear life's 

companion passed on last year.

I was thinking back on my past...and enjoying my 

beer.

Someone awhile back said to me: "You look beat!

I bet you have had a hard life." I gave them my

stock retort: "Can't complain."

Truth is, my friend, the life of a cowboy is not for

sissies. It is not for most people. First of all, you

must be a first rate horseman, and know what the

horse is thinking---even before he thinks it!

If you are not "at home in the saddle," and maybe

not born a bit bow-legged, then cowboying is NOT 

for you. You can't be hoity-toity or picky---hermano,

you gotta ROUGH IT---ALL THE WAY!"

You need to be a good roper, a good pistol and rifle

shot, be ready to endure hardships, be a vet to cattle,

butcher animals of all kinds, and even doctor yourself 

at times.

I've slept under the stars---saddle as a pillow, covered

with a saddle blanket, with rattlers coiled next to me

for warmth.

I've slept in warm hay in cozy barns on winter nights,

with coyotes howling outside .

The best place to sleep is a in a bunkhouse with a lit

wood stove, under quilts with your .45 Colt handy

to pop big pesky rats, rather than tolerate 'em!

I've lived in line shacks during winters for months,

with nothing to eat but venison and pintos. But

the peace and silence and beauty of it all...made

it worthwhile.

I have shot deer for food at incredible distances

over open .32 Winchester sights.  I had to---if I

wanted to eat.

Then there are  the years of serous cattle-punching

for the ranchers, when I was young---roping,

branding, dipping, de-horning, making steers....

more cattle than I could ever count.

Every person has to do something unless they're

on food stamps. Being a productive person is 

essential to good self-esteem.

Even now at my age, I still hire out to big ranches

for cattle drives...or maybe some roping and branding

type events.  Mostly I hang out at my little place and

sit in my rocking chair on the front porch,,, and just

rock...sure gets lonesome without Pearl...and she was

a good cook...

I love my nice little log cabin, deep in the Magdalenas.

It has a nice gun rack I built---with a scarred-up 870

pump (which I use for the dozens of quail coveys

around), my bolt- action Marlin .22, and several rifles.

I'd be target practicing all the time, but nowadays 

ammo is expensive, scarce, and a long ways to town,

in my old '72 Chevy truck, to buy more...

Yes, sometimes someone says: "You're looking old

and wrinkled and tard..." and I reply---"Well

actually wimmin' have chased me my whole life and

it has been worse lately...I have developed character 

lines and ripened into a rather attractive fellow! Don't 

you think?"

People say (evidently I look wise to them), "do you,

with all your vast experience in life, have any ADVICE

for the younger folks?"

"In life, play the hand you're dealt, In cards you'll get 

good hands...and bad .. so also in life."

"Success depends on a whole lot of hard work,

some skill, lots of gumption...and a whole lotta

luck."

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BY MIL

(on being inspired by FILLSON'S photo)

11/29/16