cowboy camp
Day 2 we proceeded to cut straight across southern Texas until we hit the middle of nowhere, and then we kept going. Continuing straight down two-lane highways at 80 miles per hour speeding towards the distant horizon line. Only to reach it and see another endless road stretch to the far horizon. But finally we reached a tiny town near the border and arrived that evening at my uncle's cowboy camp.You see, he's been in southern Texas this last year caring for a herd of cattle displaced after a series of massive wildfires swept over a million acres. Cattle that survived the fire had to be moved away from the charred earth. My uncle left his home in Wyoming to help his son (my cousin) fight the fires in Texas and care for the cattle on new ground.My uncle is a real cowboy. Honest, no nonsense, compassionate, hard-working, community-minded, sacrificial, honorable, loving. He knows how to run a well...not too long at one time so it won't dry up but often enough he can keep the cattle's water trough full, even in a long standing drought. He knows how to care for animals...overworked horses, abused dogs, a tiny puppy, new momma cows and their freshly born calves. He knows how to abide by the law and support it being upheld...in a harsh country he knows the law is on the side of right and truth and as long as you stay on that side you'll be taken care of. He loves his wife and his family. He doesn't mince words about faith and his God...you know what he's living for and it's real. And his son (my cousin) is so much like him in all these ways. They're good men.
They live in a land and a world that I honestly didn't know existed as it does. It's hard and beautiful...as are the most significant things in life.Day 3 we got to see my cousin and his beautiful wife, whom we hadn't gotten to meet before. They're pretty much the greatest young couple ever! Together we all experienced a goat cook off..melt-in-youth-mouth goodness! My cousin didn't win it, but I think he has a good chance next year. :) After the cook off, there was a goat rodeo for the children where they had to literally chase a kid goat around a pen and the first child to catch it got to keep it. It was pretty much hysterical to watch.
Day 2 numbers
80 mph (that was the legit speed limit)1 cowboy camp2 dogs (1 seasoned cow dog, 1 pampered puppy both belonging to my uncle)
Day 3 numbers
1 new cousin (my cousin's wife)15 goats to taste1 Howdy (we met a cowboy named Howdy...seriously)1 spunky horse. 1 out of practice rider. 1 concussion. 1 trip to the ER. (more on that later)