I love my dad but just like all fathers and sons, we can sure disagree about some things; best model of cars, the greatest athletes of all time, the hottest Hollywood stars, how to fix things; you get the idea. But one of our biggest disagreements and one where I just don't see much room for argument, is which is the best breed of cattle.
Now it's no secret, I like the Texas Longhorn! Not only are they hardy and can handle this crazy Texas climate, thrive on our lack of vegetation, and craftily maneuver through our treacherous terrain, but in my opinion, they are also beautiful. Seriously beautiful. But that's only my opinion.
Now my dad on the other hand prefers the Hereford breed of cattle. I'm not gonna even waste your time listing the reasons why because they are dumb. But I will say this, neither of us raise our cattle as livestock and we don't butcher or sell to slaughter, they are our pets. Just as you have a cat or dog, we have a cow. So let's not make this post about that. Anywho, let's get on with the story.
Both me and my dad lost most our cows and bulls in the great flood of Hurricane Harvey. Once our homes and farms were rebuilt, we began to look for new friends to replace the ones we lost. I found the most beautiful Texas Longhorn bull calf, after much thought and careful consideration, I eventually, and very cleverly, decided to name him Tex. My dad found a Hereford bull, he named him Billy. Nothing creative about that and for no apparent reason, just plain ol Billy. Our bulls never really got along, they usually don't. Billy has always been jealous of Tex and I'm sure it has much to do with his gorgeous hide, brawny muscles, and of course those amazing horns. Billy on the other hand ...... well I'm not gonna waste your time listing his flaws.
You should know that my dad really only loves goats and cows. He doesn't keep hardly anything else around his farm. I, on the other hand, have been jokingly called a modern day Noah because I have two of almost everything. I feel like all of us need to have a person, a partner-in-crime, a soul-mate. I also like my animals to have significant other, a ride-or-die, a better-half, you get what I mean. Seriously, to make sure that all of my fur families are complete, I have two of everything: two ducks, two sheep, two pigs, two goats, and of course, two cows; Tex and his girl Santianna.
Santianna and Tex have a wonderful life here on the farm. Every morning they meet me outside the barn where I fill their troughs with corn or grains. Once I head off to work, they take a walk to the back pasture and graze alongside the deep woods. They make their way up to the pond and lay in the tall grass. By noon they come up and sleep in the shade of the barn until I get home and throw out some cattle cubes. Tex usually rolls around his red ball while Santianna watches. At night, they lay together in the hay, under the stars. Tex always stays close to keep Santianna safe from night-time predators. They are a loving couple. A perfect match made in heaven.
Jami and I were really excited when we noticed Santianna growing herself a baby bump. Of course we do like all expectant parents, start making deals on who gets to name it. Our deal was simple; if it's a boy, I call him Huey. If it's a girl, Jami wanted to call her Journey. We shook on it and waited. For almost a year we waited. Through a cold winter and these humid and hot days of summer, we've waited. I've given extra snacks. I've done everything in my power to accommodate her needs, the babies needs...... Well, today we wait no more.
* Folks, I want to give you prior notice without giving away any spoilers.... I am a man who seldom shows any emotions but events of today just got the best of me. I can usually hold my shit together and keep a stone face even when others crumble around me. But not today. Enjoy..