I was late to work the other morning due to a young black calf running down the center of the road. It's "large animals in the middle of the road" season in Pine Valley and I had the privelage of experiencing it first hand. The cows in this community have no regard for motorists nor do they have the legal right-of-way, nor do they know how to merge to the side of the road to let you pass.We've had numerous folks into the clinic this week experiencing muscle aches and pains due to "car vs. cow" or "cow vs. deer" accidents. One motorist told the story of crumpled metal, whip lash and deployed airbags - only to say that the offending full grown black cow simply staired at the wreckage and passengers as the police arrived. He just stood there, middle of the road, no cuts, scrapes or moooos...he just looked on blinking away the flies and swishing his tail.
It must have been so unsatisfying!
In other news...
In my immediate family birthdays come conveniently and annoyingly in "clusters" throughout the year. July holds the most important 2 - patriarc and matriarc. Dad's is the 4th and Mom's the 8th.
Dad - ironically named "George W." - turned the mile-stone 7-0 on this year's independence day. We celebrated in small town fashion - riding an old fashioned steam train on the 2nd, and on the 4th - we headed up to a gorgeous mountain lake an hour or two outside Halfway - Lake Wallowa - to take in the outdoors, do some BBQ-ing and watch the fireworks. The day started early and unfortunately turned a bit sour when dad was reminded by the not-so-subtle police officer that the small town Oregon speed limit is 55 not 75. Not even his birthday coincidence could sway this young officer in his big important hat - not even us being the only car for miles around...dirty little....Anyway - off we went to the lake where we took in the not-so-small-town activity of Parasailing - a good 70th birthday ride.
Fun was had by all...
The lake was cool, the weather warm, the maccaroni salad a bit dry, but the day was great.
The only glitch (besides the ticket) was when the sparkler in dad's birthday strawberry shortcake caught the plastic bowl on fire and threw sparks in his lap.
sorry dad.
Mom's big day was definitely small town classic but different than dad's. Hers included the 6.4 minute long Halfway Rodeo Parade, a small farmer's market and lunch at the infamous Mimi's cafe - complete with birthday hat, candles and the owner playing his trombone while we all sang.
Mom also got to take in the annual summer Jr. Rodeo. The
events were fun, dangerous and sometimes cute as little 4 year olds mounted their 8 foot tall mares to strut their stuff. In one event the tiny cow-girls and cow-boys rode their horses while their MOMS took the reins and ran the horses around the barrels themselves. So really - the kids and horses weren't being timed - it was their sweating mothers wearing wranglers and boots and shuffling through the clotts of mud.Anyway - it was a fun day - and only one young man's head got stepped on by a bull.
Not Bad.
