Winter New Moon (Cold Moon)
One day at the stock show under my belt. Jon and Jen, Ruth and Gabe and I boarded a shuttle at the Doubletree Hotel. The first guy I talked to was from Detroit Lakes. He used to bring cattle down here, but stopped in 2004.
At the stock show we went into a building filled with all manner of farm and ranch implements, metal implements to hold cattle and harrows. There were also the usual beer halls and Cattlemen’s Grill. There were, too, rope makers, Colorado Rice Inc., a place that crafted brands, a man who blocked and reshaped cowboy hats while you waited.
It was like Minnesota’s State Fair in some respects though the number of cowboy hats, boots and large belt buckles per square inch greatly exceed the Great Minnesota Get Together. I’d like to know where this big belt buckle thing got started. It requires a lot of room right around the stomach area. This leads to displays of prize bellies in both men and women.
We went to a junior showmanship event for young lamb handlers. While we were there watching, Ruth said, “Granpop, I like coming to the stock show.”
At the pony ride, Ruth, who told me she was too shy to ride them last year, let Luis put her up on a Shetland pony and proceeded to ride with her hand on the pommel, beaming and waving at Jen and Jon while I walked beside her, as she asked me to do. She was no longer too shy.
Tomorrow night all of us go again. This time to the rodeo. The next day Ruth and I go by ourselves to see the Super Dogs.
I’d forgotten how many BTU’s little bodies put out. Ruth wanted me to carry her. A lot. I like it, but she’s no longer small and the stock show buildings were hot. The combination made me hot.
The Vikes and Cowboys tomorrow. New Orleans beat the Cardinals so if we win, we have to go the SuperDome. Nobody said it would be easy.
