08/10/07 The secret of life

Everyone looks for it and I know one old cowboy who found it. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back right after this to tell you what it is. It seems like everyone would like to find the secret to a long healthy life. Professional motivational speakers charge good money to tell people their philosophies, but my brother learned it for free one morning at our fair's race horse barn. Cliff, our local cowboy legend was sitting in front of the race barns when my brother, Dane walked to the barns. Cliff saw him and yelled, "that's Delbert Keane's boy, Dane", then invited him over for a chat. Cliff had been at the local casino all night and was in his usual rare form. He asked Dane if he would like to know the secret to life. Cliff was about 85 years old then, so Dane figured he must know something that would be worthwhile. Cliff has used and abused his body to the maximum living his on-the-edge life style, which added more credence to his offered knowledge. Dane thinks he may really be on to something good now so he tells Cliff he would surely like to know the secret of life. Cliff started his story by pointing to a near-by camper and said, "I could fill that camper with empty whiskey bottles I've drank." That was from a man who had to move his still because he burned all the available sagebrush in the area. My brother related that Cliff could fill two campers and Cliff responded with maybe, maybe. Cliff then patted his stomach and said, "I've had a few problems but nothing serious." What is the secret says Dane. Cliff looked Dane in the eye and said, "I never smoked one cigarette." I just knew it had to be simple. I'm Jeff Keane.