08/29/08 Cousin Billy

A lot of activities kids consider fun border on the dangerous and ranch kids are no different. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back in one minute with an example. Some events that are totally fun in a kid's mind make you a tad nervous when you get little older and a little more cautious. Billy wasn't cautious. But Dad's cousin Billy was a cool guy. Dad and Billy were raised together since both their mother's died young. Billy was raised a ranch kid but his allergies were so bad he left to pursue other careers. Billy gained hero status in my eyes mainly because Dad thought so much of him - that was even without considering he saw plenty of action in Europe in World War II, flew crop spray planes, was licensed to fly jets and became second in command as an air traffic controller at Sea-Tac International Airport. Some of Billy's successes might have been enhanced by his devil-may-care attitude as a kid. His biggest thrill even made Dad grit his teeth. Dad loved to ride horses that bucked, but Dad always rode them with a saddle, halter and buck rein. Billy's "M.O." was to perch on the gate as the two-year old unridden colts were turned out after sorting, bail on a likely one, grab a handful of mane and ride until he was bucked off or got to far from the corral to walk back. He tried it one time as the colts ran out the barn, but forgot to duck. He woke up about a half an hour later. It's one of those things you don't try at home. Billy never tried it again. I'm Jeff Keane.