My Sweet Rodeo Man

It was a hot morning, which would make for a hot afternoon

Heels and sundresses for church, - Praying that no one would get hurt

Jeans and boots for the rodeo

It was “call me when you are close, will meet you at the entrance,…I miss you”

Sitting in the bleachers – watching the boys as bull flanks are tied and riders mount

Pulling gates, bulls and broncs bustin’ out of the chutes

Climbing fences and busted knuckles

Dust, grime, sweat, blood, sunburned faces and smiles

Then it was back in the shade waiting for the next round

Talking with the men, the fighters, pickup men and stock contractors all friends

Shooting the bull and drinking cool beverages in the mid day heat

Talking and laughing about rank bulls and broncs of the past and rodeos to come

It was being pulled over to the pickup truck, “I’ve got something for you,” 

Picking up a bouquet of bright flowers from the rodeo gear in a makeshift soda bottle vase

Saying “I love you, Happy 6^th Month Anniversary”

Sweet kisses away from the “guys”  

The flowers wilted by the heat, given by hands that were bandaged and bleeding

Hands that held mine, my sweet Rodeo Man.


By MM


The above describes our weekend.  Wade and I celebrated 6 wonderful months of marriage! 

This weekend - Wade worked at one of the high school rodeos.  He works for the stock contractor, so when he calls, Wade is on the road to help.  Typically he sorts stock, works chutes, and is aspiring to be a pickup man. 

The above photo is Wade (on the fence) and his best friend Tom.  Tom is a bull fighter.

Tom was one of Wades' groomsmen!  FYI he is a dancing fool! :) 

Tom at it again. 

One of the junior bulls and a junior high rider 

One of the bronc riders 

Breakaway Roping  - Loved her horse! 

Last Bull of the day! 

P.S. I'm linking up with Cowgirl Up! Linky Party!  Thanks girls! :) and Rural Thursday Blog Hop

Instead of Shooting the Bull, they Pulled the Calf

So to continue with the cows are calving celebration week I have a little bit of a different story to share.

To begin with the circumstances surrounding Wade and I finally getting together hover around livestock, manure, rodeo, music, dancing, and beer gardens.  Apparently when you put those things together you’ve got the setting for romance.  So it should have came as no surprise that on our 5th or 6th date out at least a few of those elements would collide again.   Sadly, it was manure and livestock this time only!

We had decided to go out and eat at a local diner, and end the night at my uncle’s house.  He and his wife had recently had a baby and I was named godmother.  I hadn’t seen the baby in a while and wanted to introduce Wade to that side of the family. ( I had already met his by our first date - but thats a different story)   We got there and were visiting, everything was going smoothly. Both Wade and my uncle like to talk and shoot the bull.   My uncle made a motion to get up – he was off to check cows as they had heifers calving.  He asked Wade to come along  – this was an honor!  I didn’t think much of it, they would be back in a couple of hours. They were gone those hours plus some.                                          

They came back in the house rosy cheeked and laughing; that’s when I learned Wade had spent the last couple of hours with 3 of my uncle’s at my grandpa’s house pulling a calf.   I could just picture my uncle’s and Wade – their first time meeting behind the tail end of a heifer.

I knew it had to be love as I climbed into Wade’s truck he eagerly gave me a play by play of the entire birthing event.  I couldn't help but notice the old sweatshirt he kept in his truck was on the floor board spotted with manure and afterbirth.  Yep, I am pretty sure at the point driving down the gravel roads listening to him talk about the heifer that he was the man for me!

Each one of my uncle’s called me the next day to tell me how good of a guy I had.

Does anyone else out there have a romantic bovine date story?