Stampedin' 2001

Giddy up folks it’s that time of year again!

What I love about this time of year. Are the folks in their getup. I saw a lady sellin’ cherries (very eexpensive) along the road, cowboy hat, cowboy boots, buckle, the works, and there she was dancin' all alone, high kicken’ in 28 degrees sun.

Last Friday we rode a trail down to the Stampede parade, it was hot enough to wither a fence post. It was so dry, the bushes followed the dogs around, if ya git my meanin’. I felt like a tee totaller in the last chance saloon. The yungin went with. Lately were getting along like two six guns on the same belt. I was grinnin’ like a jackass eatin’ cactus. I saw an elderly lady, all geared up in Red and white, from head to toe, boots, hat, yo name it. Enjoin’ herself. Those horses were actin like they were tryin’ to chin the moon. One mean Bronco, he had a nose yuh could store a small dog in. He arched he’s back like a mule in a hailstorm; he was travellin’ faster than bad news at a church social.

The latest were large floats, imagine Maisie’s parade, “Honey I blew up the kids” and the Michelin man all in one, they were higher than the Plus 15’s (the bridges between the buildings) and the traffic lights, as they were anchored, they had to be lowered and tilted each time, they neared them, but this didn’t seem to be an inconvenience rather part of the fun.

This Friday we headed to the show grounds after work and gym. On the train it was a hot as Satin’s oven. I felt like stashin’ my hat in my backpack. The yungin went with. What I love about this time of year, is that you can get on a train, with a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, kerchief, bolo, etc. and nobody gives you a second look, you have to be mighty well dressed ta catch some ones eye.

At the grounds it was as noisy as a calf corral. It felt as close to Durban’s marine parade in December in the 70’s. We saw a hoss an filly wearin' long black leather coats, they weren’t hot, they were in “The Matrix”. We moseyed down and had some eexpensive Coca-Cola and Elephant ears. We saw some mighty fine lookin’ jewelry made from Pinecones, apparently the cones are cut in half, sanded down and polished. What makes them look like agates, is that each is different in pattern and color.

We came out of a buildin’; the weather had turned nasty. It was as black as midnight during a new moon. The wind came past like a freight train. My hat helped as much as a bucket under a bull. Mr. T. was getting’ mighty tired, he was winden down faster than a two-dollar watch. So we said: “See ya ‘round” and headed home. By now it was pourin’ buckets, like Noah’s flood.

On Sunday the old man and the yungun, went down the river in the patched up canoe. I dropped them off at Ghost Lake and they went to Cochran. The yungun rowed while Paw cast a line, missin’ the yungun each time by inches.
Maw stayed home ironin’ them breeches.

Y'all come back now ya hear!
Yee- Hawww!

Tokeloshe