Chasing a Buffalo

It’s been a year now since Bill Moore (my uncle and friend) passed and went to heaven to find Larry McMurtry and kick his ass for killing Gus McCrae from the novel, Lonesome Dove.

When he told me of his plans a few years earlier, it sparked a rather heady discussion over several Lone Stars. I rose to the author’s defense postulating that McMurtry had given Gus a death befitting his character.

Gus was aging physically but still lived his life as only Gus could, from drinking, carousing and playing cards to being a favorite at any of the brothels and saloons dotting Southern Texas. 

After surviving numerous scrapes with Comanches, Mexican bandits, and outlaws as a Texas Ranger; Gus was mortally wounded from chasing a buffalo when he was attacked by a hunting party of Lakota warriors.

He might have survived had he been willing to submit having both his legs amputated but he chose to die as he lived, drinking some fine whiskey listening to a whore playing a piano in a nearby brothel while his best friend was by his side.

My uncle passed pretty much the same way; his family was beside him and his sense of humor and sense of irony still intact as he left. He also lived the same way. Bill loved life as he loved his family and friends. He was also known to have “chased a buffalo” more than a few times in his life and I was fortunate to have been with him on several occasion, the earliest one being the time he hoisted me up in front of him on his motorcycle and tore off at breakneck speed as my mother and grandmother (his mother) chased after us on foot.

Bill’s loyalty and devotion to friends and family was unquestioned, but that didn’t spare us from his wit and sarcasm. One of his favorite barbs was when we showed hesitancy or doubt about one of his ideas or plans was “May I get you a couple of kerosene soaked bandannas to tie around your ankles to keep the ants off your CANDY-ASS?”.

He was also generous to a fault (if there is such a thing). He and his wife took in my cousin Daryl and tried over and over to help him. I got a letter from Bill after Daryl got settled in that things were so far so good and told me that though he and Charlotte had always wanted a house-boy, we’d never dreamed he would be white.

Bill showed us it was okay to chase a buffalo once in a while, whether it was toobing the Guadalupe River during a flood to just on the spur of the moment heading over to Luckenbach on a hot Sunday afternoon to drink a few beers and listen to some good Texas music.

I could go on and on about Bill, but I think I’ll close with this, I’ve seen and read epitaphs ended “Gone but not forgotten” but I’d like to say while he will never be forgotten, he’s not gone for in his generosity, he gave those he loved and cared for a piece of himself so he’s going to be around for a long long time. So don’t ever be afraid to chase a buffalo lest you need a pair of bandannas.

DW

 Today I lost the best friend that I ever had. Not only was he my friend, he was my cousin. We grew up together and we fought from time to time, but I can honestly say we never were mad at each other. I do have to say that some of my worst ideas and best of times included him.
 Volumes could be written about Daryl, but I'm going to only tell you about a few things we did growing up and as grown ups.
 Daryl was probably the most plain spoken person I ever knew. He was the real deal. what you saw was what you got. If he liked you, he'd do anything in the world for you; he was just that loyal to his friends. Case in point; when we were in our 20's, my mother called me about a situation regarding one of my sisters. Me being the big brother, I decided a little justice needed meting out to the person that had had laid hands on a member of my family. I told mom I was on my way pretty soon and would check on my sister and make sure she was ok. Mom told me not to take a gun so I wouldn't do anything rash. I told her not to worry,won't need a gun, Daryl was going with me. Mom then said Oh God, I'd rather you took a gun. She finally talked me out of going, but I do regret not making that road trip with DW.
 Speaking of road trips, I can't not tell this one. When I was about 17 and  Daryl was all of 15, we told my mother we were going down to Yuma to camp out and fish for a couple days. Little did she know we had a side excursion planned down to this little border town called San Luis. We were having a great time and got a little too boisterous to suit the local law. Needless to say we wound up in the local la carsa.. Now mind you there are no juvie cells in those places. We were tossed in with killers, smugglers and the like. The next morning, using my car as collateral, I was able to get out to arrange to pay the fine.. 15.00 each or fifteen days in jail. But seeing as how the bondsman had taken all our money as a ''fee'' I had to hitchhike back to Yuma to get money for the fine. I told Daryl of the plan and he asked why he couldn't go instead of me. I said fine, you go and call mom and tell her where we are and need money to get out of jail. He never hesitated when he said, " hurry back''.
 I could go on, but to me, the best times with Daryl were always at our family reunions. We played golf, we toobed, we drank a lot of beer and we just hung out. That's where some of the best ''Darylisms'' were born. This one is my favorite: One night a bunch of us went over to Gruene Hall to listen to some music and drink a few beers. Daryl wasn't drinking at the time, so for once he was the designated driver. We were laughing and joking when I noticed a strange look on his face. When I asked what was up, he just shook his head slowly and said, '' since I quit drinking, you people ain't as near f*****g funny as you think you are."
 Well, that's Daryl in a nutshell. I'm going to close with this, if you have or have had a Daryl in your life, your lucky. If you haven't, then you have truly missed out.

 DW toobin

 Workin' the pit 

I have no words

 

 DW

 With my daughter Kenzie

 Just chillin'

 The Original ''Outlaws''

  

 Daryl as ''ZZSOT"

Our favorite adult beverage

Daryl, we gonna miss you.

You were truly one of a kind!

Gonna Miss You

[Click on link for a little music]

An Open Letter to Millenials

Dear children,

    This is what I hope to be an eye opener to every child (I am loathe to call you adults as you have shown little inclination to act as adults) that thinks the world should be a safe happy place where everybody gets a  gets a trophy and no one gets left behind. You tell us that even with your limited life experiences that you already know what's best for the country and are not bashful about letting us know.
   Allow me to illuminate you on a few things you might want to ponder:

• Guns: You don't like guns, then don't get one. Just don't try to take mine.
• Free speech: you wanna protest a speaker, okay; just don't hinder my right to listen to him.
• Religion: Don't believe in God? okay, even though I feel sorry for you, I accept that. But don't try to restrict my beliefs by crying separation of Church and State
• $15.00 per hour minimum wage? Acquire a skill set that will make you that valuable.
• Recycling/Going Green: We have been doing that our whole lives. Jeans that were bought in the fall for school became shorts in the summer when the knees wore through. We lined our trash cans with newspapers and covered our school books with paper bags our mothers brought the groceries home in. Ever hear of hand me downs? We wasted nothing.
• Fossil fuels:  Did you ever wonder how we will get along without plastics? Or how much electricity is generated by coal and natural gas? Probably not.
• Don't like a certain program,change the channel.
• Abortion?I don't believe in it, but it's your choice. However do not try to justify it by saying it's  your body then saying I have no right to buy a 32 oz Dr Pepper because it's harmful to my body in the same breath.
• Constitutional Rights? The Constitution is the framework of our government. If you read it, you will see it does not grant you rights, but restricts the government from taking your rights from you. Big difference.
• Immigration?  I'm all for it, but knock on the door and not break in through the window.
• Global Warming/Climate Change? I learned in 6th grade science all about that. It's called seasons! I do have one question about man made climate change: What caused the last Ice Age and what ended it?
• Government subsidized college education: who decides who gets in and what will be the deciding criteria? That which the government gives, it can also take away.
• Stomping/burning the American Flag as a form of expression of your feelings: I'll give you that as long as you realize that I will consider stomping on you for doing that as a form of  expression of my feelings.

   Well kids, if I have hurt your feelings or made you feel threatened, too bad. Life is funny that way. It always seems to balance out. But it's not fair. It only gives you back what you are willing to put into it. that may not sound fair to you, but it works for most of us.





                                                                                     Sincerely,
                                                             A Gun Owning Bible Clinging Baby Boomer

Me

 Howdy,
   Ever what wonder what you are? How cool you are? How smart you are? When I was not so much younger, these questions and many more used to run through my mind and it has occurred to me that I might oughta get around to answering them. Soooo with out further hemmin' and hawin', I'll do my best to tell you how I came to see things like this in my head...

•  If you find yourself asking if you are cool, most likely you aren't. take for example my quintessential example of cool: Steve McQueen. You think he ever had doubts? Of course he did, but did it show? Have you ever tried to act cool and trip over your tongue or feet? I have, but now I try to be just me. It's much easier.
• If you have to ask if you're funny, most likely you aren't. Most people by nature have a sense of humor, but most don't have the timing or the instinct for being funny on demand.
• If you have to tell people how smart you are.. you might wanna rethink that. To my way of thinkin',I'll take common sense over genius any day. Give me some one that can reason something out than a person with a 190 IQ that couldn't pour pee from a boot.
• this is from a a movie, but it fits: "If you find yourself at a poker table and can't spot the patsy real quick, it's you". Best you rack your chips and find another table. This goes for your life as well.
• But, on the other hand, if you find yourself asking if you are a coward, most likely you aren't. I think it takes a lot of courage to really ask yourself that question. When I was younger, I let what I took for fear hold me back from doing something fairly dangerous and afterwards to compensate, I had  a serious propensity for mistaking rash and foolhardy acts for courage. As I've gotten older, I've learned that doing something both foolhardy and dangerous isn't brave, it's kinda stupid. Courage is being able to say,'' I think I'll pass on that but thank you for offering''.

  Well, those are my thoughts. I'm fairly positive that I'm not the only one has had these thoughts pop into their head from time to time and we all have our own ways with dealing with these questions.

Remembering

   The sun is up now and the guns are quiet and the only sounds to be heard now are the moans of the wounded,and the crackling of the pyre burning as the rebels are being cremated. The Mexican soldiers seem to be moving as if in a trance as the toss the bodies unceremoniously into the fire. It had been a brief albeit savage battle with no quarter asked and none given. 
     Santa Anna had decided to erase all traces of the rebels by cremating them and scattering their ashes, yet he wanted the Texians to know and remember what happens to rebels and those who would defy the Central Government.  What he didn't realize were those ashes were seeds. Seeds that would grow into a nation that would would one day become a state in a country that would become a light for freedom for peoples all over the world. Those seeds grew into a people called Texans that are fiercely proud and independent, loyal and friendly. Those people, The citizens of Texas have made their state an example of what determination and hard work can accomplish.
 So on this Sunday morning, let us remember, along with the defenders, our forefathers and all the people who helped to make this state what it was and is today: TEXAS!

                                            

                                                        REMEMBER!            

People and Things I Trust More Than Hillary

Howdy,
   Why is it ever time politicians say, ''you can trust me'', I get the feeling they are trying to sell me a pair of breeding mules[mules are sterile]. Trust, a small word but so large in everything we do during the day. Think about the things we automatically trust: our vehicles to start, an alarm clock to wake us up, the save icon on a document, etc. All small things but very important in most of our lives. How do you trust? Do you give it or does trust have to be earned? Me for the most part and maybe for most people it is a combination of the two. If someone or something betrays your trust, are you ever able to trust them or it again?
     Well now, seems we have a familiar name in the pot that is running for President. She says she thinks the US is ready for a woman President. I agree with her on that just not that it should be her. This has nothing to do with her last name or the fact that she has very little experience, her views differ from mine, and has a very off putting personality. I just don't trust her. In fact, here is a list of things and people I would trust before I would her:

• A morning fart after a night of drinking Lone Star
• Petting a porcupine
• The EPA
• The ATF
• The IRS
• A  street-corner 3 Card Monte Dealer
• Gun Free Zones
• Tony Romo when the game is on the line
• Chupacabra sightings
• A nasty looking Allsups Burrito at two o'clock in the morning
• Area 51 reports
• UFO sightings
• My ''Jungle Juice'' not cause hangovers
• Quail hunting with Dick Cheney
• Catching a ride home with Ted Kennedy 
• A Brian Williams  newsstory
• General Petraeus' mistress
• Filipino Street Food
• Bill Clinton's marital fidelity

   That list could go on, but I think you get the idea. No matter how qualified a person may be for President, if you can't trust them, how can you vote for them?

Hillary: The Next President or The Next Bob Dole?

Howdy,

Well I admit it's been awhile but better late than never. 
    Sooooo here goes. How about that Hillary, huh? Lies thu her teeth, lets Americans die, considers herself above the law; and yet is still the front runner.
Now anybody with a lick of sense knows the Dems have a great long game. They don't think in terms of election cycles, they think in terms of long term goals and will do whatever it takes to accomplish them up to and including letting Hillary run and lose in order to put the Presidency back in play in 2020.
   Ponder this, the economy is teetering under a mountain of debt, the market is a roller coaster, unemployment is at an all time high regardless of what the government says, foreign policy has weakened us abroad to the point that our allies don't trust us and our enemies don't fear us, and the current GOP leadership lacks the guts to make the hard decisions or are just content to be in power, which is even worse to my way of thinking.
Now, let's play this out two different ways. 
    First, we elect a moderate such as Jeb. He tries to work with the Dems and they take his lunch money every day. Then they blame every bad thing that happens that finally happens on him and the current GOP majorities. He works harder to reach across the aisle and they work harder to destroy him and the Congressional Leadership. Bingo, perfect storm to elect someone like Deval Patrick, Obama's hand picked successor.
   Second scenario: We elect a true Conservative such as Ted Cruz. He will attempt to right a sinking ship making tough decisions in spending cuts concerning welfare and ''entitlements''. He will be pilloried in the press as an extremist woman hating, homophobe that wants to euthanize the elderly by defunding Obamacare.  The Left will be out in force ready to pounce on everything he attempts to set right. He will have few public forums  in which to press his case. His every action will be scrutinized, he will taken out of context, the media will do a daily drum beat for the Dems.
     Why would they go to all this, to give up four years of control? my theory is twofold. First, this will give the Dems four years to register all the refugees and illegals to for a solid voting bloc that will pretty much guarantee a majority the will be the end of the two party system. Secondly, The Supremes are aging fast. I figger by 2021, the President will select two maybe three Justices for the court. that would be game set match for the US as we know it.
   Now this is all supposition on my part, but damn, it makes a body ponder, don't it? A final thought here, what if Hillary perseveres and wins and country goes south? She can always do what her predecessor did and blame Bush.