In a couple of days, Mom (75) and I will be hitting the trail with Uncle Doyle (83), Aunt Frances (86) and Cousin Judy. We are going to Palo Duro Canyon State Park. The pioneer women and the wagon master will have a sleepover in Oatmeal, Texas, then journey onward to just south of Amarillo to view the majesty, see a musical extravaganza about Texas, and make some memories. I have a strong feeling that this trip will be ripe with blogging opportunities.
In order for the reader to fully appreciate what is to come, we need to add a little info to those schema folders. Pull out the folder on pioneer women. I mentioned the other day that Mom and I considered ourselves pioneer women. What I meant was that whether by necessity, by choice, or by heredity, most of the women in our family "do for themselves." Take Frances, for example. There are many good Frances stories, but I'll choose two.
Frances used to have quite a bit of property in Wharton, Texas. She ran a hunting lodge/bed and breakfast, and also owned a hair salon on the same property where she lived. To add to the atmosphere, Frances kept peacocks on the property. Annoying little buggers - what with that horrid call - but pretty. One of the males was Frances favorite. Until the day he turned on her and flew at her head. Did she call for help? No. Did she try to cage the bird and send him on his way? No. In her words - "I got my shotgun and killed the *@#$^." Pioneer woman!
Another time, she wanted to kill a water plant that was overtaking the creek on her property. She did call for help, but help wasn't available on her time schedule, so she strapped on a tank of herbicide and got down into the creek and "killed those *@#$^s." She did lose her footing and fall, but she righted herself and came out the victor. Pioneer woman!
Mom doesn't pack heat, but she is handy with wasp killer, gardening shears, and hoes, and attitude! She once stared down a big, agitated, black dog while simultaneously tossing one of our dogs in the air and catching him to keep him out of harm's way. Pioneer woman!
My mom was a working mom, when mom's didn't work. It didn't stop her from spending hours making my costumes and uniforms, helping with homework, semi-single parenting (Dad travelled often for work.) and being ever present in the lives of me and my brother. Pioneer woman!
My cousin, Judy is a modern day Annie Oakley. She should have her own show on HGTV. Her toolbox and know-how are the envy of many. She is a baby whisperer, called on by family and friends for her expertise, and she once took a vacation to Cowgirl Camp. Pioneer woman!
I am the navigator. I have an uncanny sense of direction, and a need to take the wheel. I am a problem solver, an organizer, a cook, a nurse, and a comedian. Not sure I've done enough to earn my pioneer woman badge, but I'm on my way.
Please pray for the wagon master. He is going to have his hands full with the pioneer women.
Our Granny really taught us our pioneer women ways. She was tough-but sweet and kind to everyone. We all owe our spirit and talents to her guidance while with us and beyond this earth.
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