November has been surprisingly mild this year, or so it seemed, until today. Here I sit on November 17th, with Thanksgiving just around the corner, and a bone-chilling cold has finally arrived. It makes you wonder, How Cold Is It really to make such a sudden shift? For us older folks, staying warm when the weather turns truly cold can be a real challenge. Right now, the thermometer reads a brisk 19 degrees Fahrenheit outside, with a sharp north wind whipping around. The ground is dusted with a thin layer of snow, and it looks like more is on its way. Being on blood thinners definitely adds another layer to the struggle of keeping warm. And here I am, complaining about the cold when winter hasn’t even officially begun! Perhaps I’m jumping the gun.
But even as I grumble about the chill, a part of me is grateful for certain changes that come with age and circumstance. As much as I miss my ponies, I am profoundly thankful that I no longer have to trek out to the corral in this weather. The days of plugging in water heaters, breaking ice in water troughs, and hauling out oats and hay in freezing temperatures are behind me. Truth be told, that little chore, despite the cold, always warmed my heart in a different way. There was a quiet satisfaction in knowing my horses would have full bellies, fresh water, and shelter from the biting wind and snow. That thought was always a comforting one.
I believe most people share that sentiment when it comes to animals under their care. Remembering those times on the ranch in Texas, when the world outside was icy and frozen, walking into the old barn and seeing the barn cats nestled warmly in the haystacks always brought a smile to my face. There was a simple reassurance in witnessing life finding warmth and comfort amidst the cold.
I recall a photograph of myself and one of my cowboys, Rick, heading out to the wheat pasture to rope and doctor any steers that might be ailing. As I remember it, the temperature hovered around 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the ground was blanketed in snow, and a relentless, stiff breeze was blowing. I was bundled in layers: a fleece-lined hoodie, a down-filled coat with a rabbit fur-lined collar, gloves, and coveralls. Rick, ever the cowboy, wouldn’t sacrifice his image for warmth, so he wore his cowboy hat but ingeniously tied a wild rag over it and around his ears to combat the biting cold. It’s funny how differently you perceive such weather when you are 40 years old, in peak physical condition, and eager for whatever adventure the day might bring. As the ranch manager, I didn’t necessarily have to put myself in those demanding positions, as I had five capable cowboys under my supervision. Yet, those situations always compelled me to participate, to be part of the action. Perhaps it was a need to show solidarity, to demonstrate that I wouldn’t ask them to do anything I wasn’t willing to do myself. Facing the same scenario today? You’d find me planted firmly by the fireplace!
My family from the Western Slope is due to arrive for Thanksgiving, and I am genuinely relieved that this spell of intensely cold air should be behind us by then, making their travel and visit more comfortable. We don’t manage to gather as frequently as we once did; life seems to constantly shift and reshape our circumstances. I especially miss those grand get-togethers when the grandchildren were small, brimming with boundless energy. The wood stove would cast a warm glow across the family room where we all congregated, filled with good food, lively conversation, and maybe a football game flickering on the television. Those days, for the most part, are now cherished memories, as the grandkids have grown and embarked on their own paths. Consequently, I often find myself spending the holidays quietly, except for Christmas morning when I join my daughter’s family for breakfast, conversation, and the exchange of gifts. That is always a delightful and heartwarming tradition.
This recent election, and the current political climate here in Colorado, has left me with a different kind of cold feeling, one that chills you to the core in a way weather never could. But, like most, I will carry on, doing what needs to be done, and hope for a brighter future. To those politicians out there: you had better get your act together and demonstrate some real effort to preserve AMERICA’s freedom. Freedom from foreign interference, terrorism, the creeping tide of socialism, your own inflated egos, and, at times, your sheer ineptitude! If you fail to do so, rest assured, you will face my considerable wrath! (Though, I doubt you truly care).
Looking ahead, we have the National Finals Rodeo approaching, followed by Christmas, and then the National Western Stock Show in Denver. That’s what we expect for cold weather events, right? These are the kinds of cold associated with excitement and tradition.
Stay tuned, check your cinch occasionally, and remember the words of Georg Hegel, the German philosopher: “we learn from history that we do not learn from history.” I’ll see y’all, all y’all!
