I love it when a plan…

…..“Did you guys see th...?” I turned back to see I was standing alone in Blue’s front yard. I looked again at the sky above Grandfather’s ranch and saw nothing out of the ordinary. The snow fell silently. Except for the trail of white behind my eyelids when I closed my eyes, like an imprint of a camera flash, I would have never believed I saw anything. I ran toward Grandfather’s home.
…..I got almost completely through the field when I spotted Grandfather’s prize bull lying on the ground next to the water trough. Steam rose from its body. A strange chemical-type smell surrounded the still body of the bull.
…..“Nebesiibehe!!” I screamed through the silence. “Nebesiibehe!! Come quick! I think the bull got shocked.”
…..“What is it, Hono’ie Neeceeebi?” Grandfather emerged from the house, wiping his hands on a towel. He saw me standing next to the bull and came running toward me. He knelt down in the snow next to the bull.
…..“I haven’t seen anything like this since the summer of 1976.”
…..“Like what, Nebesiibehe?”
…..“See, here. Look where the bull is. There are no tracks, no prints leading up to this carcass. Except yours and mine. But the snow has... has poofed... yes, good word, poofed up like the bull was dropped from height of maybe two... three feet in the air. And, see, here, where the parts of bull have been surgically cut away... almost burnt, cauterized. No blood. No blood anywhere. And, he’s missing his eyes. And, his eyelashes...”
…..The white snow all around showed no signs of blood anywhere, not even under the animal. A shiver ran up my spine and I took a step back. The smell rising from the dead animal made me gag.
…..Grandfather took his Leatherman tool from his belt and opened the knife blade. He plunged it in and out of the bull’s neck easily, but no blood spilled from the wound.
…..“What does that mean, Nebesiibehe?” My hand still covered my mouth.
…..Grandfather stood up and looked into the sky, as if searching…

That was an excerpt from my chapter book, The Elementary Adventures of Buck. Want to hear more? Buy the book! hehehe (Now available at a store near you - or you can click on the Target.com link on the left of this page.) That was easy.

Now, if you find that just too out-there… read this:
http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/03/10/news/region/doc49b5fcf251ae5358562333.txt

(If you’re lazy, like me - It's a newspaper article from the Pueblo Chieftan dated 10 March 2009, and it starts out by saying:

TRINIDAD - A cattle rancher made a horrific and mysterious discovery Sunday when he found the carcass of one of his cattle that was missing its udders and other female parts…

...plus a lot more.)

Enjoy & In Joy

p(m)s. Hey - read my book! (please and thank you!)

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,

and remember what peace there may be in

silence. As far as possible, without

surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and

listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant;

they too have their story.

.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

the are vexatious to the spirit. If you

compare yourself with others, you may

become vain or bitter, for always there will be

greater and lesser persons than yourself.

.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your

plans. Keep interested in your own career,

however humble; it is a real possession in the

changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution

in your business affairs, for the world is full

of trickery. But let this not blind you to what

virtue there is; many persons strive for high

ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

,

Be yourself. Especially do not feign

affection. Neither be cynical about love; for

in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,

it is as perennial as the grass.

.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in

sudden misfortune. But do not distress

yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears

are born of fatigue and loneliness.

.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle

with yourself. You are a child of the Universe

no less than the trees and stars; you have

a right to be here. And whether or not it is

clear to you, no doubt the Universe is

unfolding as it should.

.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever

you conceive Him to be. And whatever your

labors and aspirations, in the noisy

confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.

.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken

dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be careful. Strive to be happy.

.

~ Max Ehrmann