The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

Of all the “doms” out there, kingdom, freedom, maximum, on and on, boredom is the one kicking my rear right now!

It is 69 degrees right now, frozen stock tanks are off the list as are shutting down the lawn sprinklers and plugging in the big John Deere so it will start when the time comes to feed the cows. The cows, who by the way have so much winter grass to graze down, probably won’t need fed until mid-July!

Fortunately, my “fall back” activity is writing these “Under The Wire” columns, an activity that surpasses feeding cows many times over, cleaner, don’t need warm clothes or a heated tractor cab.

Unfortunately, it does require thinking. Right now my rambling thoughts have led me to pondering “How did I get so lucky to have such an understanding and supportive wife as Sue, a beautiful cowherd grazing equally wonderful and productive Sandhills pastures plus the free time to dream up topics for “Under The Wire” and get paid for doing it!

Thumbing through a pile of old high school annuals (remember them)? I came across a picture of myself labeled “voted Best Personality.” It should have read, “Luckiest Son-Of-A-Gun, Ever!”

As a student who only made it through high school and college (Colorado State University, 1969) because I was a pretty fast sprinter, kinda good wrestler and running back. You can easily figure out it wasn’t my brain that got me through school!

Growing up in rural Colorado, enrolling in a “Colorado History” class initially looked like a walk in the park. I soon learned it was more like a stroll down the Interstate! Once again, that class’s instructor being the wrestling coach, I mysteriously passed it!

Got a few school “Letters” to sew on my letterman’s jackets but no job offers anywhere.

By the way, I still have those jackets, letters and all but they are way too small for me now! Ls for LaPorte High School, Ps for Poudre High School in Fort Collins. Think I might have gotten a letter from CSU, too, but couldn’t afford their jacket!

Thanks for allowing me a “Trip down memory lane.” The trip seems to get shorter every year!

Well, I just figured out “What to do when boredom sets in.”