Day 92 CJSM

Day 92

 

Becky riding the “White Stallion” in the living

room and controlling him with “butt-ties”

The “White Stallion” saga began when daughter Becky was about five and we had just moved into our house at Maeystown on the farm. That girl is quite the worker; always there to lend a helping-hand. I have pictures of her “constructing” that domicile. In one, she is laying bricks using a trowel; in another, she hammered a nail into a board hitting the head so many strokes that the metal flared out until it was paper-thin and sharp around the edge as she did not have enough strength to force the steel into the wood, but, she was determined and persistent. Atta-girl!

 Getting back to the “White Stallion” events, it all began in the swimming pool.

The “kid” (Daddy) always had to create new “fun”. One day, after tossing the girls over his head and into the water by grasping their feet and heaving them air-born, he decided to invent a new game---“The White Stallion!” Slapping the surface of the pool water with an open-hand to echo the sound and enhance the splash, ole Dad beat a rhythmic 1 – 2 – 3, 1 -2 – 3 cadence imitating the hoof-beat of a cantering equine at a dead run. Rearing and bucking and snorting like a wild-beast, he charged the girls, challenging them to “catch” and then tame the steed.

 The girls caught on right away to his shenanigans fashioning a “make-believe” lariat out of thin air, tossing the tether over the stallion’s head, then reining the wild horse in close where Becky placed an “invisible” halter on him as he snorted an bucked and tried (sometimes escaping) to get away from his tormentor.

 When the wild beast tried to “talk” to make explanations and improve the new game, Rachel was having none of that foolishness. No Siree! She put a “mouth-tie” (metaphorically) on the horse so that he could not infringe on her fun---and…intentions! He obligingly became a “mute”.

 Then, Becky would mount the ole horse-y’s back wrapping both arms and legs around him as best she could. Then, she’d release the tether and off they’d go through the water, her squealing at the top of her lungs and ole Dad bucking and twisting and doing his best to dislodge the persistent cowgirl. She could really ride! Still can! Only, now, she’s a bit big for such foolishness---and…Daddy might hurt himself if he tries such “childish” antics today. (he might!)

 So? Once the two girls, working hand-in-hand against Dad had properly subdued and tamed the wild beast---somewhat…I just let them think they were winning! The wily old cayuse got the idea of using a “brain-buster” to dislodge his evil demon. Going into a head-stand in the shallow end of the pool with ole “Rough ’n ready” wild-woman Becky leg-wrapped around him, the ole man would complete a summersault throwing the little girl head over heels, pummeling her. Well! Now! Somebody’s smarter! Yeah? Nooooo! Not to be outdone, little Rachel took one “bucker-off” and decided to “fix” that wild beast. She created a “butt-tie”, another “little-girl” imagined restraint so I couldn’t do “brain-buster”. Boy! Oh! Boy! It just gets harder and harder for an old man to have any “fun”! If “Mama” ain’t watching your every move (and, wandering eye), the kids are keeping tabs! Damn!

 So? We sure enough had us some grand ole times---always…Great! I enjoyed it; still do.

 When the old calendar signaled a closing of the swimming pool long about time of the slanting September-sun cooling day-by-day so you could actually feel the chill coming, the “kids” had to move the festivities indoors. So? The old “White Stallion” took up his outrageous rampage in the living room, bucking and snorting and rearing, tossing Becky onto the---sofa!

 Yeah! Sure! You can teach on old “horse” new tricks; you can’t keep an old “horse” down!

Ah! Cookie Jar “Buckeroo” Sweet Memories