Mom was wise in the ways of the world

I can hear my sweet Mom saying, “My oh my, how time do fly!” and I also remember a still “wet behind the ears” young lad struggling to keep a straight face as he thought, “Bless her, she just doesn’t know that time moves awful slow!” and now that same lad, some what more mature, thinks about what she said about time and comes to a startling realization of fact. My Mom was wise in the way of the world, because it was uncanny how time seems to be flying by! 

That thought did not just hit me, because time has been running faster than I can keep up with for quite a spell now. One quarter of this year has evaporated and we have just celebrated Easter, a time that we should all stop and thank God for sending his Son to live on Earth as a man, to eventually die on the Cross to take away our sins and to be resurrected on the third day to assure us of eternal life if we would just believe in Him. 

Just as Pastor Judd said, “We should lift our arms in praise as we shout, Thank You Jesus!”  This does not have to be just at Easter, it should be throughout our days, because Time really does fly. April also brings my young bride’s birthday. She shares it with our sister-in-love, brother Bill’s wife Sissy Cathey, as-well-as with our nephew, Brodie Stephen. I should have said something last week, but my memory is not what it used to be. 

I often think of her as just seventeen…but, she has been votin’ for several years. Don’t seem like it has been any time since we met, an’ I can still see her smiling with her eyes sparkling like stars in the sky. That’s really not so hard, because she is still smiling and sparkling. That “dadburn woman” swept this ol’ country boy right off his feet! She is my best fan, a great encourager, a super Mom, and she gets to listen to a lot of “practice poems.” I thank the Good Lord for her love! 

April also has San Jacinto Day, which commemorates the battle that saw Sam Houston’s Texians defeat Santa Anna’s Mexican troops and capture General Santa Anna. This battle gave Texas her independence. Texas became a Republic and changed the world. That historic day was chosen by Texas A&M University as a day to celebrate Muster. This grand tradition, Aggie Muster, was first celebrated on San Jacinto Day back in 1883. 

This is a solemn ceremony that honors all Aggies that have died in the last year. April 21 will find Falls County Aggies gathering at The Chicken Place to observe Muster. 

Barely past April, and into May, my Cowboy Poetry Pard, J.C. (Gary)Penney and Ol’ Jim Cathey have been invited to perform at the Salado Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering in Salado on May 7 and 8. We will be a part of the May 7 Friday night show that begins at 7 p.m. This is a ticketed show and the tickets are $30. We will then have three performances Saturday morning, starting at 9:15, 10:30, and 11:15. There is no charge for the Saturday shows. This is the first year for Salado and I know it will become an annual affair. Further information is available at www.saladocowboypoetry.com  

I wrote today’s poem for my young bride a few years back.

Dadburn Woman  

The trail dust was thick as he let the herd go roamin’, 

pickin’ it’s own slow winding path to the river.

He smiled as his thoughts went to that dadburn woman,

whose sparklin’ eyes an’ quick smile shore made him shiver.

So, with herd beddin’ down he rode toward the shed.

He’d do what was needed to take care of his ride,

got his pony unsaddled, rubbed down, an’ fed.

Then he hurried up the path toward his young bride.

He took off his spurs an’ he took off his hat.

She stood there, with that smile that give him a rush.

He was near seventy, no denyin’ that,

But he felt his heart throb an’ felt his face flush.

For more’n  fifty years, he’d loved that gal,

thru good times an’ hard, an’ good times again.

Sometimes it was tough, but she was his pal,

an’ thru it all, they knew where they’d been.

She had stood on that stairway, a long time ago,

a vision of beauty, like angels  above.

He shook his head an’ knew it was so,

absolutely no doubt, she was his love.

Sweethearts for a time, they’d married in May,

had a summer job an’ a house then off to school.

They planned an’ they loved as they made their way,

 finishin’  their education would be the first rule.

The children had come, yes, money was short.

An’ work filled their days an’ troubles were tough,

but they clung to each other, joined at the heart.                                                                                                                  Fer they were a family an’ that was enough.

The children growed up, then kicked loose their traces.

You’d taught ‘em an’ loved ‘em, let the Lord be known,

they’d  married an’ blessed  us with grandkids faces.

That’s how the plan works, out there on their own.

So he hung up his spurs an’ he hung up his hat.

Took her in his arms, sez, “Dadburn Woman, I shore love you!”

She smiled as she hugged him, sez, “I know that.”

Blinked back a happy tear, an’ sez, “I love you too!”  

Happy Birthday Darlin’!

God bless each of you and God Bless America!