Readers Thinking Out Loud

Here are some readers remarks that I thought everyone might like to read. Both of these ladies live and work with horses today, and both of them have their share of stories. After reading through this blog, they shared with me some of their thoughts.

Charity comments on ranch life:

“I have to tell you, being raised on a ranch gives you a certain amount of appreciation for the land and the hard work that goes along with it. It's just that when you're out there pushing cattle or working in a branding pen, you have a stronger connection to how God wanted us to live, you appreciate the environment and the animals and the weather and the people that are with you more. Unless someone has lived like that, I think they just don't get it and we may come across as a bit arrogant sometimes, but that's not the deal, it's just that we know it's a better way of life. I remember hating having to get up and go feed or get up and go throw hay when the snow was blowing so hard you couldn't see, and I hated not being able to hang out with my friends in town, but now that I'm grown, I can understand the desire to be away from everything in town and the drama that goes along with it.” - Charity Underwood

Cindy talks about technology:

“Not too sure what a blog is, I guess…I’m assuming it’s what you like and what goes on in your mind and you put it out there for all to see. Sure is different from when I was your age. I just saddled up and rode off into the wide open spaces, looking for a wild yearling to rope and tie down; a good horse to ride; and to live as far away from civilization as I could. Didn’t even have a phone-never dreamed there would be a cell phone and for sure a computer and what they can do now! Even my mother and father can use one. I’m sure if they thought about it, they would’ve felt like they’d been thrown into a science fiction movie, or something like it. Imagine growing up in the 1940’s like they did, WWII, with the Great Depression just over and seeing all that has transpired since.

Even my generation has been exposed to ‘speed-of-light’ transitions. Text messaging??!! It works for me-if I have glasses and lots of time. I like it better than holding a cell phone next to my ear while I’m trying to get work done. My days of squishing a phone between my chin and shoulder are over. The neck is done in. Besides, when you talk on a cell phone that way, the other party hears this muffled sound. You can’t hear a thing, and the horse you are trying to blanket just boogered, whirled and almost killed you.

Other times the dang cell phone falls out of your pocket (which you forgot to snap) because your reins were in your hands and the horse was jumping away from a cow, so you just slipped it in your pocket without even hitting the end button. This fragile piece of wondrous technology sometimes lands in the water trough. Either way, it’s pretty hard on the little critter you can’t live without, and at the same time you just absolutely hate! You have to grab that little rascal as quick as you can, shake it, disassemble it, hurry! Stick it and it’s battery in the refrigerator (of all places!) to dry. How long can you live without it? One hour perhaps? Put it back together and check for messages!! I noticed a lot of young folks wear their pockets out pulling that cell phone out just to look to see if they have a had a call. Slaves to a cell phone, all of us.” -Cindy Smith

Thank you, ladies, for letting me post your comments up here. And thanks for reading, too.