Tough Enough to Wear Pink

I love rodeos; I'm not sure why, but I really love rodeos, so it was off to Fort Worth for the Susan G. Komen night where the Rodeo goes Pink!  Panhandle Slim sponsors the clothing, and so all workers and most of the participants wear pink.  Several years previously, I tried in vain to buy the official shirt, but much to my chagrin, the shirt is not available to the public, even breast cancer survivors.  Last year's shirt was a brighter/darker pink, and this year, a pretty, pale pink.

This was the fifth annual event and our fourth trip, well, third trip.  We had tickets in 2009, but the snowstorm kept us home that evening.  In 2008 Cody had just returned from the ranch, and I asked Cody out to this rodeo--our first big date.  Our friends Julie and Steve decided to join us this year, and yes, we all wore pink.  We ate cotton candy, popcorn, hotdogs, and corny dogs.  Steve, a true, all-American cowboy himself, recognized many participants, as well as other spectators.  Julie has even been to the rodeo in Vegas.  I know, because I picked her up at the airport, the only thing was, their plane was delayed, so I spent part of the night in the airport.  Poor girl, Jules' plane arrived sometime around 4:45 a.m.  We're wiser now, so we just stay out a little late for the arena festival.

Shawn Brackett

Steve knows the man who trains Whiplash, the Rodeo Monkey.  Julie loves Whiplash, but unfortunately, Whiplash was not at this year's or last year's rodeo.  In addition to the typical rodeo events, we were entertained with the 4-H/FFA Calf Scramble, Weatherford's Anthony Lucia-Mr. Versatility trick roping, Shawn Brackett-The Sensational Shawn driving his horses while standing on their backs, and the Canadian Chuck Wagon Races--vicious, aggressive drivers.

I don't know what rodeo event I like best.  I do cheer for the calves in the tie-down roping, and I think the bull-riders are crazy.  I really like watching the girls maneuver their horses around the barrels and the team roping.  The only clowns I like are the rodeo clowns for the bull riders, and they always put on a good show and take swell care of the riders.  Rodeos are just two hours of good, clean fun, whether they are the professional rodeos like Fort Worth, Houston, or San Antonio, or the small shows along America's by-ways, like the Drummond, MT rodeo. 

One late-spring night in the early 1990s, I didn't have anything pressing to do, so I drove to Red Oak, TX, and on Pratt Road is a small arena.  Being out in the country, especially then, the lights can be seen for many miles.  Nearing midnight, the events had not even begun to wind down.  About this time, this very fancy truck with fancy matching horse trailer pulls up.  A nice-looking cowboy gets out and talks with a few folks looking for a team roping partner.  The cowboy found a partner, and while that cowboy couldn't rope worth a flip, the crowd loved him, because that cowboy was the George Strait.  As I understand it, George is a much better roper today than then.

I guess one of the best things about the Ft. Worth rodeo is that the event graciously honors breast-cancer survivors, and sharing that time with a good friend is always fun.  Julie and I had been fast friends in the late 1980s and early 90s, but unfortunately, geography defined our friendship the last decade.  Choosing not to let where we live dictate when and where we spend time is a great decision, and our friendship has picked up where we left off, as if 10 years had not elapsed.  Had I not won my breast cancer battle, I would have never known two of the three people sitting with me last night.  I don't know if other survivors have that recurring thought, but my post-cancer experiences, joys, adventures, and friends happily remind me that I would have not known this without a good fight, and being honored for that fight feels good.  Here's to many more Susan G. Komen nights at the rodeo with Cody, the man of my dreams, and great friends!