It's Breakin' In The West

Several years ago (like, so many that we were still putting Bud Light in the coolers), we got rained out while branding.

Imagine it. The whole crew, most of them wearing long yellow slickers (aka raincoats to the rest of the world), hats dripping wet, hanging out in the barn while it absolutely down poured outside.

My Dad was absolutely determined we were going to finish branding that day. The longer it poured rain, the more my sisters and I began to challenge his resolve. After letting him know that we should probably consider calling it, one of the old timers, Fulton Castleberry (who is one of my favorite humans on this earth), leaned over towards the barn door, looked out, and said, "It's breakin' in the west!" This got a long, large laugh out of everyone, because it was very clearly NOT breaking in the west. You couldn't even see "the west" through the rain.

Cowboys have a great sense of humor, and these kinds of situations, where God forces us to put work and seriousness on pause, bring out the best in them.

"It's breakin' in the west," is a pretty common saying around here. I hear it often, and it always makes me smile at the memory. It reminds me of good days. My Dad. Old-timers: those still with us, and those who aren't. Brandings. Eternal optimism. Friends and neighbors gathered together. And most importantly, how even in the middle of a downpour and a branding that had to be put on pause, there's always room for humor, gratitude, and connection.