“Would you like to dance?”
First day on campus at collegiate 4-H meeting in basement of Extension building, tall thin farm girl shyly consented: “Okay.”
Two country kids meeting for the first time, conversation was limited yet sufficient to find out her name was “Margaret.”
By the first of the next week, that “Margaret gal” kept coming to mind: “Wonder what her last name is?”
Grocery store carryout-wannabe cowboy’s call to a former classmate provided name to look up a number in the student directory.
Surprised, the phone answerer even remembered the hat-wearing-hick who couldn’t dance to the beat and likely stepped on toes.
However, “Margaret Mary” had a “toothache” and couldn’t accept the request for a date.
Never short on persistence, the wannabe tried again days later and was shocked by consent to a supper evening out.
With similar interests in everything country and agriculture, dating continued to meeting each other’s parents.
He really didn’t know much about farming and she didn’t know anything about riding horses. Regardless, next Christmas at her farm home family gathered around engagement ring hidden through several package openings was life-together proposal.
With completion of wannabe’s sophomore year, the two became one that following summer. Solemnized by family and friends overflowing church, “I do’s” best reflected in the “Just Married” carriage down the main drag.
Whippersnappers with little more than a penny together, overnight honeymoon to the Cowboy Hall of Fame. Only one day because he had to be on campus for judging team work Monday morning.
Old farm house became home with daily 25-mile commutes until college graduations. Busy young couple with judging teams, rodeos, grocery store work and diversified farm profit attempts.
Fortunately, a newspaper job was offered the wannabe for regular income while she ran the farm.
With their own cowgirl and cowboy under watchful eye, she managed sows, cows, and hay baling. Her biggest joys were as an agriculture youth leader, encouraging horseshow skills and coaching national winning judging teams.
Blessed, the wannabe became a cowboy-of-sorts starting hundreds of horses to ride. With children, the ranch family expanded horse and cattle operations, while hosting heavily-attended judging contests and sales.
Climax came with family celebrating a golden anniversary.
Reminded of Ecclesiastes 4:9: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
XV–34–8-22-2021