Today was not unlike most other days here. I gathered weaned calves and fed cows. I hauled salt and looked through the newly weaned calves. But this evening, as I rode Maggie through those new "weaners", I had an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
It was a beautiful evening for a ride. Maggie and I trotted out north of Dad's house up into the big rough hills where the calves like to stay. Then we walked through them. The sun was making its way down in the west and the sky had a bright pink glow. A tiny breeze was blowing....just enough to tussle Maggie's mane when we rode into it and keep the windmill turning. The air literally smelled like cotton candy and the temperature was a perfect 65 degrees. Maggie kept a nice walk on a loose rein. For me anyway, it doesn't get much better than that. As Dad would say, "No better seat on the ranch."
And there's just something that comes over me when I ride through those big, soggy calves. Maybe it's kind of like what a parent feels when his kid scores a touchdown. It's pride, for sure, but more than that. It's gratitude. I know that I work at what I do and I do try to do my best. But I also know I'm very blessed. There is so much that goes into getting those calves to this point.....feed, genetics, weather, and a whole bunch of something else. Some might call it luck. I call it blessings.
I am blessed.
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