The Cowman and his dog's view...
Their ashes were scattered on this hillside over looking the river and the valley. He so loved this valley. Most of the family was able to come for this special day. Words of hope and goodbye were spoken, tags of remembrance and a picture of he & Max were tied to the pine tree, and wildflower seed balls were scattered on the hillside. And there this story comes full circle. Looking back I realized that for the most part it was he I wrote about. His stories told thru me. There are still stories to tell, and they are being passed on to his children and grandchildren. The family circle remains unbroken.
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." -- John Muir
In the beginning there was a young rancher. He married a country girl. They raised two great children, a lot of cattle, a bunch of dogs, a cat or two, a little hell, and assorted other things. Life was an adventure with much to learn along the way. Years passed, the kids had kids, the rancher and the country girl grew older. Life was still an adventure but not in ways the country girl could understand. After a time she left the rancher. It was difficult, they had grown up together the rancher and the country girl, over forty three years of marriage. They parted as friends she wanted to think, but who really knows.
The rancher passed away last Sunday. He left a brief note about the disposition of his ashes, and chaos behind him. There remains a daughter shaking with sorrow, a son taking charge of a thousand things, bewildered grandkids, and a country girl caught between madness and sadness.
I keep calling myself an old lady, but I just figured out that I am not old. I am experienced beyond belief.
A fellow blogger (AR Patti) posted a link to Doris's post of Dr Kikta's first hand account of the tornado's impact on St John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin MO. Tornado damage, but more importantly human grace is in this story:
http://doris-socialworker.blogspot.com/
Please give as much help, in what ever form you can to those in need.
