Age Disease and Rowdy Yates

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I suffer from Age Disease now. It’s the excuse I use when the body and mind prevent me from doing what I once was able to do. The challenges, obviously, are both physical and mental and they will never end. There is also humor in life. Seeing it and laughing with it is good therapy. 

This story is evidence of suffering from Age Disease. It is inspired by a personal adventure while learning how to cut cows from a herd. Much of what happened is factual but exaggerated a bit for the sake of the story.

And yes, I realize now that I was overcome with a sudden and unexpected lack of common sense.

 Rowdy Yates  

The day was spent in the saddle

Moving cows from one field to another.

Herding cattle down a trail on horseback,

Was an accomplished bucket list adventure.

Vision of Rowdy Yates had

Galloped across my mind,

I imagined the young man’s adventures,

As he drove the herd along.

The remembered lyrics of “Rawhide” 

Pushed me on.

“Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’!

Keep them dawwggies movin’!

Rawhide!

Head ‘em up head ‘em up!

Move ‘em out move ‘em out!

Rawhide!

Though the streams are swollen

Keep them dawggies movin’ 

Rawhide!

Cut ‘em out cut ‘em in

Ride ‘em out ride’em in

Rawhide”…

 Once we drove them to 

Our final destination,  

I dismounted my horse

To help collect a calf.

Vision of Rowdy Yates

Still dancing across my mind.

But every so often,

There are those times

When body and mind

Suddenly conflict.

It probably shouldn’t happen, 

At seventy years of age.

But on that day

At that moment

The body and mind 

Had a distressing discussion.

The calf, you see

Decided to sprint.

My body warned, “Better not do it!!!” 

My brain declared “Yep! You can!!!

The body screamed out in fatigue,

But the mind disagreed.

I hurled my body out,

As if Rowdy Yates!

The calf’s flying tail,

Was all I felt!

Then it vanished

Into the herd…..

As I slowly ascended

From the ground

And wiped its residue

From my mouth,

“Are you OK?” I heard them ask.

My reply, “I’m too old to play Rowdy Yates!” 

Edmond P. DeRousse, Author

Common

      Man                                                   

               Adventures

 You Don’t Have To Be Rich And Famous (or old) To Have Adventures