The Tiger is Loose

The call came into my son last week from his friend, "Tell your dad that the tiger is loose!  I repeat...the tiger is loose!"  Laughing, my son obediently called his dad and relayed the news.  Hubby hung up the phone and grinned.  "It looks like Mark is out and about again!"

Several weeks ago we had another call that a big, farmer friend, (and I mean big literally) had lost a battle with a crazy cow.  It seems he had been wading into a group of cattle to sort them out when one of them just went a little crazy.  Dropping her head, she charged, knocking the farmer down, then continuing to head butt him as he was on the ground, pinned to the fence.  Fortunately, his son was helping and rushed to head the cow off.  They pulled his dad to safety then loaded him, protesting, into the truck and off to the hospital. 

When we heard that he was actually staying in the hospital, we knew he was really hurt.

It turns out he had a broken pelvis, cracked ribs and bruises.  He was going to be housebound for a while.  Any time you take a farmer who is used to being out every day, checking on things, doing his chores and seeing that everything is done to his satisfaction and tell him he is going to be delegating chores for a while, it is bad!  Real bad!

In total frustration he read books, watched television, and stared out the window as his chores were done by others.  There are few things that will drive a man crazier than seeing someone doing something and you can't show them how they could be doing it better!  It's not a reflection on the helping friends and relatives.  There isn't a farmer born that doesn't put his heart and soul into his farm.  He knows every inch of land, every gate that sags and needs lifting,  which calves need a little extra feed, and which waterer is likely to freeze.  He knows where the best hay bales are stored for the new mama cows,  which cows are likely to need extra attention close to calving,  and where the cattle like to hide during blustery, cold winds.  He's learned how the barn door has to be propped to keep the wind from blowing it open,  how the key has to be jiggled to get the old tractor to start and a thousand other things that come from being there day in and day out.  All information that just cannot be explained to others.

His buddies rushed to the rescue.  No, not to do the chores, but to entertain him while he recuperated.  They came in shifts to tell him stories, repeat the latest news (gossip), and assure him that his son and hands were trying hard...and he could probably get it straightened out by summer!

Time passed slowly.  So when the word arrived that the tiger was loose, we all gave a little cheer.  (Probably none so loud as the helpers!) 

It's good to have you out again ...and don't believe everything they tell you.   You'll have everything back in shape well before summer.

(FYI -The crazy cow is now hamburger.  Enjoy your Big Mac.)