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Well, it was with some trepidation, that I wandered the big hall of the 'Hitch'. This was, indeed my own home territory, but tonight there was going to be a meeting....I had jokingly bugged Barry McMillan in the talkback sections of his and my articles (at Themestream) to come to our fundraising social (once I figured out where the 'Voice on the Prairie' lived). Some friends and the Wranglers Riding Club, based here at the LB Ranch had gotten their heads together, and were throwing a benefit social for LB Ranch, after the disastrous fire that consumed our tack room, and shed in February, 2001. My sister, Barb, (some of you have met her in a previous article, my evil twin), was asked by the Club for a name for the social. It was aptly named "Blazing Saddles". (My all-time personal favorite movie). We were pleased to have "the Hitch'n Post" as the hall (which the owners of the "Hitch", donated, for the cause). We have so many people to thank!!! Now that the background's been established, on with the story. It was a wonderful, fun 'family-type' benefit, with kids there ranging from 6 to 87 yrs. Our music man, Al, encouraged games and fun. It was great! I had arranged to do a stint at the door, so I'd catch 'the Voice' (hopefully with his guard down) as he came in.
Alas, everytime I even went close to the door, someone paid to throw me in the hoosegow. Then I had to wait while they passed the hat to bail me out. ($20.00 to arrest, $20.00 to bail me out) "Unfair!" I cried, and Al jacked my bail up to $50.00!!!.
Well, I finally got sprung, and went to peruse the hall, stopping to get a beer on the way. I noticed my sister, Barb's red hair, and thought I should go and have 'words' with her...She and Les led the fight to keep me in Jail (did I mention that she's the EVIL twin??) and refused to put a buck in the hat to bail me out!!!!
As Joe McCarthy says: "Paybacks are a Bunny". I decided to have Barb thrown in jail. As I approached her table, a pleasant-looking quiet young man looked up at me, put his hand up, to shake mine and introduced himself as Barry McMillan. Oh, wow, I thought, this is too cool!! I've been reading Barry's articles since I started up there on TS. At first because I thought he was someone I knew, then because I admired his work. I had badgered him in print, and so, wasn't expecting such a nice guy to talk with. I sort of figured that if he was going to take me outside and whup the tar out of me for my comments, and badgering, I'd willingly go back to the jail. We talked for awhile, and it was like we knew each other. Barry is a very personable man. He allowed as to how he thought he might like to get to ride a horse, so, I think that I'll be seeing him again. I invited him up to stand by the front bar while the prizes were drawn, and then we chatted again, until I got pulled away. (I was forever running that night, thanking people, and meeting people, getting thrown in Jail...). As a matter of fact, I only got to drink about 5 beers. I'd just get one, and "you're going to jail", and off I went, to jail. (I didn't even get time to go to the 'little rabbits' room'). (Did I mention that I was thrown in Jail multiple times?? But...I digress).
I think Barry would make an excellent friend. He's a shy, retiring sort, but once he starts to open up, it's like a flower blooming in spring, and I would have liked to have spent more time talking with him. Hopefully, I'll get that opportunity this summer if he comes out here to learn the "Butt Bone" thing. (He said he might need a lesson or two before riding again. Thanks for coming, Barry. You made a special evening even more special by your presence!!
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