Saturday, December 27, 2008

Back on the Farm


I recall an incident that happened back on the farm where I grew up. Grandpa lived with us since Grandma had passed on. Our Daddy was the preacher of the little country church. It was a very devout household and we learned very early on that there was a code of ethics that you lived up to or else. Bad words were on the top of that list. No bad words. Us kids soon learned to follow that rule, but Grandpa just didn’t seem to get the message. I don't think he really cared about the rule because he used them all the time. One time he hooked up a team of horses to a wagon and went to a field. I don’t remember what he was doing, but it doesn’t matter. When he started back to the barn the horses got spooked over something and had a run-away, they took off like flying rockets over ruts and brambles and kicking up clouds of dust a mile high, and the wagon looked like an air born missile. Some of us kids were outside and saw them coming in our direction. We were worried that Grandpa had been thrown out and may be hurt bad because we couldn’t see him in the wagon. We didn’t know how we were going to get the horses stopped. We thought they might even run over us. Well, not to worry, horses are smart because when they saw the house they came to a screeching halt almost at our back door. I don’t know for sure how horses think, but I think they must have thought they were safe now that they were in their own back yard, or maybe they thought the fly that had been chasing them, was no longer a threat. We’ve got to go find Grandpa! About the time we were talking about finding Grandpa, he managed to pull himself up and was standing in the bed of the wagon. This is the point when he began to badmouth the horses with some more of those forbidden bad words. There were some words that our tender young ears had never heard before, he finally ended it with, "I see we finally got here." Maybe you would need to be there to get the humor of it, but we thought that was about the funniest line we had ever heard so we began to snicker and chuckle a little. At the same time Grandpa climbed out of the wagon and staggered around in front of the horses and started shouting those same words to the horses again, in case they had not heard him the first time. He had raised his voice to a full roar. By now we had collapsed into a full-blown laugh seizure. We were laughing so hard we couldn’t stand up. I guess Grandpa must have noticed this because, all at once, he turned his verbal abuse from the horses to us. Grandpa sure knew how to take the humor out of something because we snapped to attention and things began to simmer down and it was back to normal. Grandpa just didn’t have much of a sense of humor.

19 comments:

frogglet said...

Too Funny. I would have been laughing too.

Jimh. said...

Sounds like my Grandfther! Except, I don't recall him being too strict with us...Still, funny!

E said...

Too funny! My Grandpa use to talk about days on the farm all the time and how mad he got at his horses. I loved hearing his stories too. Thanks for the laugh today.

Isle Dance said...

I just read the article in the Seattle Times and had to pop on by. What a sweet story! :o)

Dori's Mommy (Diana) said...

Funny!!

Look at your making the big paper now! I hope you remember us small town folk when you make it BIG! lol!

Heidi said...

You have a delightful blog! I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm curious about the story in the paper. I live in Mount Vernon, but don't get the Seattle paper.

I have lots of memories about my grandparents and I've just had my first novel published, Cowgirl Dreams, based on my grandma who rode steers in MT rodeos during the 1920s.

Heidi
www.heidimthomas.com

Trish said...

Hi Grandma, I'm here from the KOMO4 website. Did ya know they have a story featuring you on their web page?

And now I've been sitting here reading your posts for the last 45 minutes. I've been laughing along the way. One thing in particular is the asking the pepsi guy where something is in a store. I find that hilarious because my husband used to be a Pepsi guy and he thought it was so funny when people would ask him where something was!

Thanks for the laughs tonight. I'll be back.......actually may I add a link to you on my blog so I can find you again?

DeeDee said...

Wonderful article about you in the Seattle paper. I only wish my mother had lived a little longer because I know she would have loved telling her stories. She enjoyed playing with the word processor when she visited my sister's work place and I am sure she'd have wasted no time learning all things digital if given the chance and it had been available. I cherish the wonderful slides she took with her 35 mm camera and know she would have filled many a hard drive with great shots. Keep up the great work cause you have a gift :o)

Stacy Uncorked said...

I stumbled across your blog this morning, and I'm so glad I did! I'm thoroughly enjoying reading through your posts, and love your wit! ;) Thanks for the laughs...I'll be back...often! ;)

Matt said...

Hi, I just read about your blog on the KOMO site. Very nice! Matt.

Kim said...

TOOO CUTE..
Have a Great Day...
Hear you are becoming famous..

Angelnina said...

You are an awesome lady! Just found your blog through FEEDJIT, and I've enjoyed every bit of it.

My dad's side of the family are from Oklahoma, and my favorite Grandmother Violet (who is no longer with us) was quite a character. You have brought back memories for me.

I've bookmarked the site.

Jan said...

You're a great storyteller. I have subscribed to your blog because 1) you're a delightful read 2) I miss my parents who are themselves great storytellers. They already had passed away. There's something to your unique, witty voice that reminds me of them.

Anonymous said...

Your site is absolutely delightful, and I will make it regular like the Seattle PI. I love your humor, and I am thinking of an old Mae West line..."Keep a diary and someday it will keep you!" Both your family and Yakima are lucky to have you in their lives, and now the world! Keep it up.

2Grandmas2 said...

I am yet another who found you through a newspaper article. I really appreciate the good heart in your blog. Love that kitty picture!

Anonymous said...

Granny you are famous!!!! I love your stories! You better be working on your sequel to your book, because I want to treasure your stories forever! Love ya! When the talk shows start calling I'll be your agent so I can go with you! lol

Anonymous said...

Nice, found out about you on FriendFeed. Keep up the great blog. You serve as an inspiration that people of all ages should use technology to express themselves and have a positive impact on the world.

Stephanie Frieze said...

Great story that left me laughing, too. Would make a great movie scene. Your style reminds me of my own Missiouri Ozarks grandma whom I miss very much.

Anonymous said...

So glad my husband found the article in our newspaper and shared it with me. I am delighted to read a Grandma doing a blog. I am going to put your blog to our favorites along with our granddaughter's. I must admit your blog is more upbeat and delightful than hers. Thank you for writing. Keep it up. I am glad the newspaper put the article in so more of us grandparents became aware of your blog.