Don called the Good Rancher on Friday: a few men were going to be slipping into a neighbour's corral and loading up her cattle, as quietly as possible. Hoping to do it on Monday. Was he in?
Oh yes.
Shooting for 11:30.
Done.
The Good Rancher has many, many admirable qualities; punctuality is not on that list. Nonetheless, on Monday morning he jumped into Henry the Ford, buckled up and sped to the destination.
He was there at 11:27.
It was -2 and the wind was starting to make its presence felt. Don and Lonnie were waiting for him, and they were joined in short order by Robert, Cliff, Rod, and Glen.
They paused for a moment and then in unison squared their shoulders, took a breath and stealthily made their way to the corral.
They didn't want to spook the cattle.
They didn't want to spook the cattle.
This was their Thanksgiving gift for their friend.
Everything had seemed a bit off-kilter since two Wednesdays earlier when Barry, good old Barry, had slid out of his chair and his spirit left this earth forever.
His funeral had been the following Wednesday. His cousin Jack officiated, bringing to life for us the young Barry he had known. His three beautiful all-grown-up nieces each gave us glimpses into this man who loved them, who treated children with whom he came into contact with special care and dignity. Following them, his friend Twila spoke - with a sentence or two from her three elder children, who were already missing their buddy.
Each person there to honour him that day would have had their own Barry story. He had a coffee route. He teased a lot, but it was never malicious. When he got something into his head to do, he would do it.
Gopher hunts.
Chopping wood.
Helping lots of neighbours.
Making funny faces.
Stettler on Tuesdays with his Rose.
Thanksgiving with Jill and Les.
Observing the beavers at work on the lane leading to his house. Observing all the beauty - both extravagant and unobtrusive - this part of the country has to offer.
No doubt this and much more was on these men's minds as they somberly took their stations and lifted their cattle sticks and got to work, sorting the calves from the cows, tagging the bulls, checking the pens.
Barry's three buddies were there as well, keeping an eye on things - the next generation, learning to love the land.
It was all completed in short order - all these men know their way around a corral! - and after a brief coffee break, they gathered to watch for Jim.
Jim, who left his family Thanksgiving dinner early in order to drive the herd to auction at Olds, trundled up slightly before the time he had said he would be there.
Clearly, an unspoken code was at work. You might be late for your everyday stuff; for an occasion as weighted as this one, you put your best foot forward for your friend.
The road lurches a bit at the curve, and with the snow and slush, Jim's truck needed a bit of traction. Of course, the guys were one step ahead and the tractor was already running, the chain already prepared.
The animals loaded fairly smoothly - "a beautiful set of cows!" was the verdict. All of them know that a difference of a few cents a pound can make an awful lot of difference to the final payout. They were all relieved for Barry, happy for Rosemary.
And then everyone stood back as Jim climbed up into his truck again.
Eyes blinked a little faster than usual. "Once you get going, don't stop!" called out Lonnie a bit hoarsely.
Jim headed down the hill; Cliff was already waiting in the tractor, just in case. Fortunately, the tractor's services were not needed again this day.
As the truck pulled out of sight, there was a bit of a general sigh.
"a good rancher …
"a good friend …
"It was a good day."
It was another example of neighbours helping neighbours in the Byemoor and Endiang community.
It was Thanksgiving Day, 2018.
Gopher hunts.
Chopping wood.
Helping a neighbour.
Helping lots of neighbours.
Stettler on Tuesdays with his Rose.
Thanksgiving with Jill and Les.
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One of my favourite Barry memories:
his and Rosemary's 45th anniversary supper
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No doubt this and much more was on these men's minds as they somberly took their stations and lifted their cattle sticks and got to work, sorting the calves from the cows, tagging the bulls, checking the pens.
Barry's three buddies were there as well, keeping an eye on things - the next generation, learning to love the land.
It was all completed in short order - all these men know their way around a corral! - and after a brief coffee break, they gathered to watch for Jim.
Jim, who left his family Thanksgiving dinner early in order to drive the herd to auction at Olds, trundled up slightly before the time he had said he would be there.
Clearly, an unspoken code was at work. You might be late for your everyday stuff; for an occasion as weighted as this one, you put your best foot forward for your friend.
The road lurches a bit at the curve, and with the snow and slush, Jim's truck needed a bit of traction. Of course, the guys were one step ahead and the tractor was already running, the chain already prepared.
The animals loaded fairly smoothly - "a beautiful set of cows!" was the verdict. All of them know that a difference of a few cents a pound can make an awful lot of difference to the final payout. They were all relieved for Barry, happy for Rosemary.
The paperwork was done under Ivy's careful tutelage; Debbie was there, keeping the coffee coming, keeping the tears at bay. While the men were out working, the ladies had been recording each tiny detail - drawing brands, locating premises ID numbers, making sure there was no hitch at the receiving end.
And then everyone stood back as Jim climbed up into his truck again.
Eyes blinked a little faster than usual. "Once you get going, don't stop!" called out Lonnie a bit hoarsely.
Jim headed down the hill; Cliff was already waiting in the tractor, just in case. Fortunately, the tractor's services were not needed again this day.
As the truck pulled out of sight, there was a bit of a general sigh.
"a good rancher …
"a good friend …
"It was a good day."
It was another example of neighbours helping neighbours in the Byemoor and Endiang community.
It was Thanksgiving Day, 2018.
8 comments:
Hi - just read the story on Barry. What a tribute to him and his friends who helped him that day.
What a WONDERFUL Tribute!!
Karyn what an amazing job you did on relating some of the good deeds that some very kind & caring friends did for Rosemary in this time of need. Amazingly beautiful
Oh so nice Karyn, you are a wonderful writer! Love reading your blogs. This is no exception, it is a great tribute to Barry.
Where would we be without friends!
Thank you for sharing in word and pictures
A beautiful story. Thanks dear Karyn.
What a wonderful Tribute indeed! Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you For this wonderful tribute. Very well written. It brought tears to my eyes again as I read it. It was like I was there all over again. We have wonderful neighbors
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