11:16 a.m. - 2008-08-30
HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A COWBOY!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Currently Listening
Highwayman
By The Highwaymen
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Today, I want to tell you about a very special man. He came from a difficult childhood in some ways. He was the third in a family of six children. He never felt like he belonged, although he was very close to all his siblings. He was a good kid. He wore glasses at a very young age. He didn't look like most of his siblings...he resembled his mother's side of the family - most people said. He was the ring bearer for a dear cousin's wedding when he was about 4 years old. He looked very cute in his little tux. He was in Scouts. He loved working towards the various badges. He still talks about the camping trips and falling into the river when a few of them snuck out to go canoeing.
There wasn't much extra money in the family when he was growing up. He got a job at a neighborhood pharmacy as soon as he was old enough to get a work permit . He bought most of his own clothes in high school and paid for his own yearbook and other school supplies. He met the girl he later married when he was just 16. They did not date until their senior year.
He intended to join the Air Force but was turned down because of his eyes extreme sensitivity to sunlight. At that time, the military was much more picky on who they took. He was heartbroken but returned to his hometown and found a job. He married that high school girl about 3 years later. He joined the local police department and worked there for 20 years. He had a son.
During that time period, it seemed his birth family mostly called upon him only when they needed help. He was often the one who straightened out the messes and fixed all the problems. Sometimes, it didn't seem like anyone bothered with him unless he could be of use to them. And, as it usually goes, he got blamed when things didn't turn out the way they wanted.
After retiring from the police department, he found other work. After working several different jobs, he was hired to work for the same hometown city government. He handled claims investigations for several years and finally retired 3 months ago at age 63.
He is still married to that high school sweetheart. The son is grown, married and has stepdaughters and a brand new step grandson. Although it seems like most of his siblings have drifted away, he is usually the one who keeps in touch with those that remain. And yes, sometimes it still seems like they only get in touch when they want him to do something for them.
Throughout his lifetime, he has always been a good friend. He has always been trustworthy, kind, honest and helpful. He is thorough, detail oriented, responsible, a self-starter and an especially hard worker. He will go out of his way to help - if he can - in almost any situation.
Even though, he is retired; he still answers calls about the claims he used to handle for the city. He helps friends when they need assistance. Even today, he is helping a friend repair and remodel a home. He works in the yard all day. He is always looking for projects to keep himself busy. He taught himself about computers and developed quite a lot of programs and spreadsheets for the city when he worked there. He still enjoys "plinking" around on his computer at home. He is a good listener, a problem solver, a wonderful friend and a good man.
When he was a child, he enjoyed watching Westerns at the movies or on television. He really loved all the old cowboy heros. John Wayne was like a relative to him. I am sure if he could have, he would have been a cowboy in real life. He used to think about living in Montana and riding the range. I bet he would have been a great sheriff in a western town. I often tell him that he was born 100 years too late.
He is a natural riding horses. He told me once that he used to study how the cowboys on television and in the movies rode, sat in the saddle, held their hands on the reins and other mannerisms so he could be just like them. He did a good job in watching them because he looks like he has always been riding horses.
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GENE AUTRY'S COWBOY CODE
1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.
2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.
3. He must always tell the truth.
4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
6. He must help people in distress.
7. He must be a good worker.
8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.
9. He must respect women, parents, and his nation's laws.
10. The Cowboy is a patriot.
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He has gone on some "horsey" trips to Utah and lived for several days out on the mountain tops, sleeping in a tent, eating around the campfire. He has made friends in Utah and often talks about his trips out there.
August 31st is his 64th birthday. I wish I could give him the best gift of all and give him the Western life he would have loved to live.
Happy Birthday to RH (retired husband)!
I LOVE YOU!
