Believe it or not, my sweet, kind, gentle husband recently ‘fessed up about his dark side. It happened just the other day. We were talking about something or the other, and out of the blue he stated,
“I hate cows.”
Shocking, but true.
Since exposing the dark underbelly of his soul, the subject again reared its ugly head after his phone call with an old South Dakota friend, Donnie. Way back when, Donnie was our pastor, Connie (Donnie’s wife) was Allen’s babysitter, and I taught their oldest two kids in school. Donnie was also a cowboy, constantly roping Hiram (figuratively speaking) into going on trail rides and doing cow-related stuff.
Eventually, the good times ended. We moved to Iowa. They moved to Nebraska, and though Hiram misses his cowboy buddy, Iowa’s lack of livestock-centered activities has been a great relief to him for the past 27 years.
Next week, we’re going to visit them for the first time in maybe fifteen years. Hence, Donnie’s phone call with directions to their place and some really good news which Hiram shared after he got off the phone.
Donnie’s gonna be working cows all day Monday, and Hiram gets to go along!
Unless, of course, I need Hiram along for my two women’s club speaking engagements in the neighboring towns. Hiram said he’s willing, more than willing to attend the women’s club meetings if, for any reason, any reason at all, he can be of assistance. This from the guy who under normal circumstances has a list of reasons – time to mow the lawn, cut toe nails, get a root canal, endure Chinese water torture, clean the grill, listen to fingernails on a chalkboard – for not attending functions containing the phrase “Women’s Club.”
Which once again exposes the dark underbelly of this good man’s soul.
He hates cows.
But not as much as he wants to spend time with his old friend.
So on Monday, Hiram will saddle up and join Donnie and the cows on the open range.
It’ll be just like old times.
Donnie in his element.
Hiram wishing he wasn’t on a horse, exposing the dark underbelly of his soul.
Me and Connie having a good talk indoors, far away from the critters.
Yippee ki-yay, get along little doggie!
