S T O R I E S

Smokey had a real name but it was very dignified and never used by either him or anyone else, although we did put it on his gravestone.

Smokey was unusual in several ways for a cowboy. To the best of my knowledge, he didn't have a drinking problem, which alone would set him apart. Also, he was given to poetry (not a usual cowboy trait) and when alone for long periods of time would send long poetic letters.

Unfortunately, few of those letters have been kept. They were usually a transcript of the weather of each day, what work he did and his random thoughts as he rode his horse and lived alone.

I assume Smokey had family but if so, I've forgotten. If he had an ex-wife or lady friends, I never knew of it. Which might explain why he never had a drinking problem.

Like all our cowboys, he was just incorporated into the family. At Christmas, he would greet gifts with, "Well, good. Now I have something to give to ole so and so."

He'd carefully wrap it up again so the gift and wrapping would remain intact to be passed along.

Tonight, as I again fell for that old romantic trick of ranchers - "Wanna go with me to take back two heifers to the new neighbors?" and as I stood in the dark, opening about gate number five, I thought about Smokey.

When I was very small I came to a wire gate and had to get off my horse to open it. My trouble wasn't opening or closing the gate, it was how to get back on my horse.

I still have that problem only these days it's due to a heavy behind and not short legs. Smokey rode up laughing over my dilemma and gave me a hand up.

He told me "I've thought up a poem just for you."

And then he said:

Cowboys are careful in choosing their mates;

They don't want a woman who can't open gates!

Welda McKinley Grider has been tricked into opening gates for her father, her brother, her husband and several friends, all male.

Julie is a recovering can-chaser in a 12-step program. Visit Julie's Web site at www.julie-carter.com.