The Caliche Times

© Jerry Davis

Guide by Topics

Volume 3

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Y2K Caliche Times    Vol. 3  No. 1       1-1-2000

© Jerry Davis

We made it through the night and no disasters here in Okra, Texas as far as I can tell.  It didn't rain, snow, hail, burn, no earthquakes, no computers bogged down or anything.  Our truck, computer, Internet, microwave, toaster, and alarm still work. The earth still exists today.   I know some folks are disappointed about civilization not ending as we know it today.  The truth is none of us or anything around us, especially technology, will ever be the same again.  But from my front window, the earth looks a whole lot like it did yesterday morning even though it warmed up ten degrees during the night. 

 So we start the New Year with cows that think they are hungry, grandkids that couldn’t possibly be hungry and my wife still remembering things I didn't get done last year.  I was hoping we could forget a few things that aren't perfect, especially if they are things that are on my side of the line that we have drawn in the sand.  Time seems to be working in my favor though, each day that passes I have a little more trouble remembering yesterday’s list of things that I put off to do until today and I have already forgotten where the list is for tomorrow.

We have all our family here for a late Christmas this weekend.  Several members of our family have to go back to work at school again on Monday, so if you have a chance, you might say a prayer for them.  Just don’t tell anybody you prayed for anything related to school, you might get into trouble.  The ghosts of Madeline Murray O’Hair are still with us you know.

 Monday, I will go back to work paying bills, feeding cows, and record keeping.  I am sure there will be some house cleaning to do too.  Lou Jane said if I could just keep the house clean and have the meals ready when she gets in from work, my retirement would be more ideal from her point of view.   I personally think my cousin Katherine has the right idea when she sent an email stating last night that they were observing New Year’s Eve by Gene (her husband) napping while she watched out the window for any developing disasters.  If a disaster develops she can always wake Gene and he will spring into action and defend his TV chair or his family.  This leaves Gene in the position of being seen as a hero when the going really gets tough.

Can you imagine just now being born into this world today?  Just think of all the things that parents and teachers have lined up for children to learn.  Someone offered to sell me an encyclopedia on the Internet the other day for $7.50 plus shipping and I decided to buy it.   When I started teaching in San Antonio in 1961 someone offered to sell me a set of encyclopedias for $300 plus shipping and I bought it.  I never did get everything looked up in the 1961 version.  Now maybe that all 30 books are on a CD I will find the convenience so great that I will look up a lot of things.

 I am really looking forward to wearing a Y2K - CD wrist watch that plays my favorite music CDs, picks up my email by satellite and allows me to play free lotto while I check my global positioning unit to see where I am in the cow pasture.  I also want to be able to check my wristwatch screen to identify each cow by an implanted ID chip.  I won’t have to spend $2.00 a cow to just have numbered ear tags anymore.  As I see it this is a big improvement on cow chips.     I am going to wait a few more years and have a contact lens computer chip implanted to help me see better, especially at night.  When my dog barks at night, I want to see what he is barking at.  Why should I have to go look for a useable flashlight just to see what Sinbad the Chowdog finds interesting in the dark.   Who wants to keep buying 6V batteries that weigh 2 pounds apiece and paying two prices for them anyway.    After all, the batteries that landed on Mars the other day probably didn’t even weigh that much.  Well, they didn’t work either.  I think next time I will offer NASA some of my old batteries.  It’s time to recycle mine and save taxpayers a few dollars.  Mars may be just the place to get rid of a few items.  NASA has already started a collection of little toy robots and things that dig holes there.  They could have tested those little robots right here on our place to see if they could find any moisture.  You know, the good antique trader should be trying to catch a ride to Mars to collect a few of the goodies left there by NASA.  Can you imagine how much the bids would be on Ebay if you could sell the cute little Mars tractor on the Internet?

Y’all come to see us if you can find us.  Just look for the cutting edge of culture and technology we live right there.

 Jerry

Index

The Caliche Times    Vol. 3  No. 2       5-4-00

© Cowboy Jerry

Weather reports and other notes from The Davis Elm Creek Ranch 
 

Our friend Bob in Abilene, TX sent me an email that said “No need to email me any more weather reports from Okra, TX.  Once you have heard one report you can just memorize it and use it again tomorrow.”   Yep, we have decided that we will just have to learn to live without rainwater. (We haven’t had rainfall here to produce significant stock water since July 4, 1998).  We think we will try to train our cows not to eat and drink as much as before.  If our cows could just spend some time on one of the ranches in West Texas we figure they would appreciate how good they have it right here at home.  We sometimes think we have it tough here in Central Texas but in areas of South West Texas all they have to do to “call up” cows is to rattle a bucket of water and stand out of the way.  As far as grass goes, most of it has been grazed off for several months now.  The last good rain came in the Big Bend area in June of 1999.  

Ever so often during your days on a ranch you have to do unpleasant things like take an animal out of its misery.  If you have had to have a pet put to sleep then you will feel close to the following story about Rosebud the family cow.  If you have a tendency to cry during Rosebuds story, it’s OK, we shed some tears also.   If you make it through Rosebud’s story then you will be able to get a smile or two out of the last story written in honor of Grandmothers.

I’m Sorry, Rosebud.

© Jerry Davis  5-4-00 

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  I know we shouldn’t have given you a name.  Giving you a name made you a family member.  

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  I know you were the smartest cow we had and you always listened and watched for us coming with the feed pickup. 

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  I know it will be tough for the rest of the herd cows to manage without you; but they will just have to learn to deal without your leadership.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  The next lead cow hasn’t been chosen yet.  Cows make their decisions in ways I don’t always understand. 

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  With all your skills of knowing when to follow or when to graze made you stand out above the rest.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.   If we had understood you were mineral deficient, we would have tried to do better.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  You had calves and more calves and served you time here on the ranch well.  If your peers could read better we would put up a plaque honoring you in front of others.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.   I don’t think the others even knew your name but I know they understood when you told them in your own way that feed was on the way.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  We knew that sometime we would have to say bye to you but we certainly didn’t expect it to end this way.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  You did get a decent family burial with dignity.  A dozer put your carcass below varmint level so your bones won’t be distributed across the pasture like some other unfortunate animals have been.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  You did make it a little difficult when you bellowed at your calf when he came to pay his final respects before your last day.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  You can rest well knowing your calf was of weaning age and hasn’t been back looking for you after your last day.  Calves only mourn for 3 days so he is Ok by now.

I’m sorry, Rosebud. Your last meal was one of your favorites, I didn’t have to even ask; grain cubes, fresh hay and water.  It was no burden for me to hand it to you, a family member.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  You could have a least blinked or closed your bright eyes at the very last moment as I tried not to think of you as a family member that had to be destroyed.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  It was appropriate for you to blow and snort your nose on me but I still couldn’t make you get over your paralysis.

I’m sorry, Rosebud.  We have retired your number.

This is written in honor of Grandmothers.  Change the names if you want to.  If you aren't a Grandmother that's Ok.  I thought you might want to read it anyway.  My wife, Lou Jane, is the Grandmother in this story.   Jerry

Grandmother, Come Here.
5-3-00
By Papa Jerry Davis

 Grandmother, come here.  See if you can climb into this train like I did.

Grandmother, come here.  I want you to play with trucks with me.

Grandmother, come here.  Grandmother, lets go outside.

Grandmother, come here.  I want to climb dis ladder.

Grandmother, come here.  I can see the cows through the window.  What are they doing?

Grandmother, come here.  What is dis?  Did cows make this?

Grandmother, come here.  Lets sit in the swing and watch the birds.

Grandmother, come here.  Where is Papa Jerry today?

Grandmother, come here.  Why is Jonah crying?

Grandmother, come here.  Grandmother, I want some green Yogurt.

Grandmother, come here.  Grandmother, what is your favorite color?

Grandmother, come here.  Grandmother, I want 2 M&M’s.

Grandmother, come here.  Grandmother, Jonah can’t have my truck.

Grandmother, come here.  Let’s get on the tractor.

Grandmother, come here.  Who dis picture?

Grandmother, come here.  Outside, what’s Sinbad doing?

Grandmother, come here.  Can we go ride in Papa Jerry’s truck?

Grandmother, come here.  What did you bring me today, Grandmother?

Grandmother, come here.  Grandmother, will you hold this ball?

Grandmother, come here.  Where is Papa Jerry?  What’s he doing?

Grandmother, come here.  What’s Greg doing?

Grandmother, come here.  What’s Sharla doing?

Grandmother, come here.  Where’s Daddy going?

Grandmother, come here.  What’s Mother doing?

Grandmother, come here.  Grandmother, want to share some chips?

Grandmother, come here.  Grandmother, I want some Peanut Butter crackers.

Grandmother, come here.  Grandmother, will you sleep in my bed?

Grandmother, come here.  I can’t see you when we talk on the speakerphone, come here!

 Grandmother’s answers:( not in any order)

 “Yes, Yes, OK.  We are coming to see you soon.   Papa Jerry, move the ladder!    I brought you a truck. Try not to kick the fresh cow poop!   Don’t push  Jonah.  You always share with little brother.  Yes, Yes, OK.   I love you Caleb!”

Y'all come to see us.  We live right where the East ends and the West begins, the North has ended and the South has bended.

Jerry

Index

The Caliche Times    Vol. 3  No. 3       5-12-00

© Cowboy Jerry  

The following is a prayer that came together as a result of the current severe drought that we are undergoing in the Central Texas area as we have watched our ranch stock tanks dry up and the grass become parched with temperatures soaring to 100 and above in the last few days.  We have been without significant rainfall for over two years now.   The few rains that we have had haven't produced any "run off" water to our stock tanks.  We have watched other ranchers sell their cattle as we have tried to hang on.  Unless we have rain soon and less wind which is robbing us of all moisture, we will not have the grass we need for cattle or for winter hay.  Our ranch will have to follow suit and sell cattle that we really don't want to get rid of.

Following the prayer is a Mother's Day story to honor good mothers everywhere.  Hope you enjoy it.
Jerry

We Thought so Anyway.

© Jerry Davis    5-12-00

We have prayed and prayed good prayers, oh Lord.

We thought so anyway.

We have used up all the good prayers we know and made up a few that weren’t so good.

These prayers haven’t been working, oh Lord.

Have we been praying for the right things?

Rain was our priority to ask for Lord.

We thought so anyway.

The weather pattern was the problem.

We found out you didn’t want to change nature again,
you had worked on it a long time the first time.

Once you got the earth spinning and the poles in place you decided to sit back and enjoy what you had built.
We decided that we had come to depend on weather patterns that are not dependable but variable. 

We thought so anyway.

We began to realize that something else would have to change.

We don’t have 40 years to wander in the desert, at least some of us don’t.

Maybe it's a test that we needed.

  We thought so anyway.

 
Maybe it’s a prayer for a new plan we need.

Maybe it’s praying for something we can change.

Maybe for inner strength, spiritual strength.

 Maybe it’s a prayer for a better plan, to use what we have until nature varies in our favor. 

We think so anyway. 

The following writing is about a real mother and her children.   I wish all children could be this fortunate. 

It was Mother’s Love

It was mother’s love.  When you said “Ok, would you like some more cream of peaches?” and didn’t say “Don’t throw your food on the floor.” 

It was mother’s love.   When you said “We want to share all the toys with little brother too” and didn’t say “stop that screaming.” 

It was mother’s love.  When you said “Let’s put on some play clothes so you can play in the water and mud after the rain.”  And didn’t say “No, you might get muddy.” 

It was mother’s love.  When you said “I think daddy would like to go with you to the store and help you find a new truck.  You did really well at the hospital when you got your shots today” and didn’t say “You shouldn’t have cried and tried to get off the bed.” 

It was mother’s love.  When you said “Did you like your birthday cake when you dipped your face into it to take a bite” and didn’t say “NO! NO!  Now you have icing all over your face.” 

It was mother’s love.  When you said “You don’t push little brother down.  Go to time out” and didn’t say “The next time you do that I’m going to …….” 

It was mother’s love.   When you said “Daddy will toss you up high when he gets through tossing little brother and didn’t say “You’re too heavy, Daddy can’t toss you any more.” 

It was mother’s love.   When you said “Would you like to have another chocolate cookie?” and didn’t say “you’ve got chocolate all over your face, diapers, hands and on the floor.” 

It was mother’s love.  When you said “Take your nap now and when you wake up Grandmother and Papa will be here.”

 It was mother’s love.  When you taught me to wave bye and say bye, bye to Papa and Grandmother with a fist that sprung open and closed again over and over.”

It was mother’s love.   It was mother’s love when you said GOOD JOB! to all the things I did right, like use the potty correctly.

It was mother’s love.   It was mother’s love when you stored some of my toys for me to rediscover on a rainy day.  It was like Christmas all over again when you brought them out again. 

It was mother’s love.  It was mother’s love when you said I had to eat some food on my plate before I could have M&Ms.

It was mother’s love.  When you said “I love you Jonah, I love you Caleb.”

Index