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Steve, it's ok, you don't have to do that anymore. I guess because we enjoyed it so much we learned not to focus on the not so fun moments. Like child birth I suppose. We truly had moments from hell, but the good outweighed the bad. The family truly enjoyed that way of life. I guess that's why my two college graduates are still doing it. The real downner in all this is, they have to do it for someone else. Buying a ranch in MT. is a thing of the past unless you were not in the ranching business to begin with and made a fortune and now decided that's what you want to do. Brett works for Sinclair Oil, Earl Holding, he owns so much of Mt. and we have good old Ted. He's been a real asset to the state.But better since Jane went back to CA. OH well, enough of that, when I win the lottery I'll buy something and become a land-cattle baron. OR A..Hole like the other rich folks. OUCH. As for shoveling snow, we finally bought a snow thrower this winter our shoulders couldn't take the shoveling any longer. We have three doors leading inside and all were blown shut by the drifts. It wasn't much fun Nov through 2 wks ago. Well back to swiffering.

04/18/09 02:49 PM

#395

Rhea, you said you found Lillian. It would be great if she could come to the reunion. She needs to get on the site and get into the mix. Hope all is well. Now back to swiffering, do you guys ever get random thoughts jumping into your head. Please say yes.

04/18/09 03:44 PM

#396

Jan- You know Ted is the largest land owner in Oklahoma.

04/18/09 04:05 PM

#397

Jan- And another ranch chore I forgot to mention, that was really 'fun' was the de-horning, especially the older cattle. I can still remember that wonderful smell of singeing the blood vessels with that branding iron.

04/18/09 06:53 PM

#398

Mary Ann Johnson (Null)

She's baaack. I have tried to catch up on reading the forum and want to make some comments, but no one (except Judy) will remember the questions by now. The coach that I had - I thought it was Driver's Ed - was Fred
Bruce ( it may have been another class). I do remember having Paul in my drivers ed class. We spent more time than anyone driving around the football field before we were allowed on the road. I bet Steve's little sister was "grandfathered in" by the time she got her license. Now I wonder if I had Blevins and Eddy mixed up - which one was missing fingers? I do remember their faces and most of the Oklahoma counties that we had to recite in front of the whole class.
I remember Harold Maynard from a very early age. While Steve was building character (out doing chores) on Saturday morning, I was eating Cheerios in my pajamas and watching cartoons. Mr. Maynard would just walk in the back door and put the milk in the fridge while I continued munching. Those were also the days when an attendant pumped gas for you.
I'm a better horseman (horsewoman) than all of you combined! Jan can vouch for that. We were riding horses in the middle of someone's field one time and Jan felt the need to change horses. Now I still was "boarding" (like one boards a train) the horse from a fence. Jan's horse was 29 ft tall, but 5'1 Jan was sure that I could get on him. She took my horse and then took off. I put my foot in the stirup, grabbed the horn and quickly calculated just how hard and fast that I would need to boost in order to get up on this giant. I gave the best push I could and went straight up, up, up and over the saddle and then down,down straight down on my head. I was poetry in motion. It really hurt,and I'm sure Jan was really concerned, she just couldn't show it for the
laughter! If my daddy had lived, I'm sure I would have had a horse because my sister always did.
When Jan moved to MT, I was really concerned. I had just read a novel about how the author knew it was spring when she could hear a woman screaming, as her husband drove her into to town for the first time since early fall. She had gone crazy from being locked up in the house due to the long winter of being snowed in. I'm not sure Jan was ever "right" after that first winter. My son-in-law is from there. He and his dad took turns patroling the ranch every two hours, all night long, during calving, because the calves could freeze to death (when it was -40 below) I think that's even worse than Steve's story. But even if Jan doesn't still have her "right" mind, I know she should be strong spiritually.
When we were probably in 7th grade or so, Jan could not have anyone over to spend the night, unless she had done her lessons for her Saturday morning Catechism classes.
I agreed to answer the questions on her homework (without reading the assignment, of course) and that way, I could spend the night. I did this for several weeks in a row. Jan told me the nuns were so impressed with her spiritual growth and insight. They questioned how she had become so spiritual. They never knew a Southern Baptist girl was the one supplying the answers and all so we could dance to 45's on Friday night! I remember dancing to "Louie - Louie" (sp?). That was one song my mom asked me what the word meant, as she didn't think anyone could understand the words to our music. I had argued with her up to that point. I dropped it because I wasn't about to explain the words on that one.
How come you gave Carla steak and baked potato's? I always had chicken noodle soup, while you ate the steak when I came to your house. Truthfully, I really did want the chicken noodle soup - I never got it at home.
Steve - I was the "director" of the class plays for two years, I think. Mrs. Wichert was really nice - she came to my mom's shop to get her hair done. She told mom that he chose me to be director because I was organized. Well, it's a blessing and a curse. I was a closet "ham " and really, really wanted to be on stage. Who knows where I could have gone, if only......

04/18/09 06:57 PM

#399

Mary Ann Johnson (Null)

Steve - You used the term "dehorning". I think I had a professor once who had cattle, and said he something about "polling" or a "poled" cow. To me, that should be a "depoled" cow. But what do I know, obviously nothing.

04/18/09 08:13 PM

#400

Mary Ann, Where in the heck was I when all this stuff was going on. Obviously I was abducted as a child by an space craft, and replaced with an alien child. I can't believe I would ever have someone else do my lessons. I must have been returned to earth in time to take you riding though, cause that dang sure did happen. And I laughed almost as hard reading it today as I did when it happened. We traded horses because you were having a difficult time getting along with the horse you started out on, and were discouraged-so we traded. Excuse me I had to stop to giggle once more. Gosh girl you landed right on top of your head, I think you actually were doing a no hands head stand for a second or two.We will have to go out for a steak when we get together, I'll buy. Poor Judy would come home at noon with me and she had to bring her own tuna fish sandwiches. My dad loves to this day to tease her about those sandwiches. Steve, so I guess you don't like it when your de-horning and you get showered with that warm blood, I don't mind the smell when you burn the stubs. I don't like the spoons on the new calves, that's the one chore I hate. I've had the opportunity to do a lot of different things with animals. Pulled several calves, put prolapsed cows back in,(I'm the pusher inner, cause my hands (or IQ) are small and I even got to spay heifers, I liked that. There are many things I hate to do, but I didn't always have a choice to not do them. I hated to ride in a lightening storm, or when it was as slick as glass. I hated being put on top of things because I was the most agile,or was that stupid. OH! it was because I didn't know how to run the tractor, (I now know how to run the tractor)I hated feeding the brahma bulls because they didn't know me or my scent so they chased me out of the pen. But I finally got wise and now wear Dick's coat and have fooled em'. But like I said the good days out numbered the bad, so if I get to, I'll do it all over again. I'm reminded of a story on Brett when he was 3. We were calving and I was pregnant with Brad. We were watching a heifer who had just calved, the calf was up and the cow was eating the afterbirth. Brett took a long look, turned to me and said, "Look mama PIZZA." Well let me tell you, I about hit my head as I fell out of the pickup, it took a very long time for pizza to be included on my list of favorites.

04/18/09 08:48 PM

#401

Mary Ann- Coach Blevins was the one missing the fingers. He taught Oklahoma History where we had to learn all the counties. I think I could recite most of them today also.
Jan- Pizza huh? I always thought it looked like your chicken noodle soup.

04/18/09 08:55 PM

#402

Does anyone remember the Loyd Thaxton show? It was kinda like American Bandstand.

04/18/09 10:02 PM

#403

I loved the Lloyd Thaxton show! I would run home across the pasture to watch it after school. I think it came on at 4:00 every day. I would love to see some old reruns. And American Bandstand was a Saturday morning fixture!

04/18/09 10:22 PM

#404

Steve, you never ate my chicken noodle soup. But Brett's pizza, the right color and something sure reminded him of pepperoni. I don't rememeber the Lloyd Thaxton show. How did Mr.Blevins lose his fingers, I had forgotten about it. He had great dimples though. Adair Alfalfa Atoka Beaver Beckham Blaine etc etc. I sure was glad when that day was over and I got through 77 counties. Kids now a days hardly have a clue what county then reside in. Steve where is Russell, what is his specialty? I was surprised to learn some of our classmates had reputations that I hadn't heard about. I do remember Carla and her caller, but never knew who it could possibly be. Lavanna your encounter sounded awful. Hope whoever it is doesn't show up.

04/18/09 10:38 PM

#405

Dean and I ran our 70 steers through the chute last Saturday morning to worm and implant them. We only had two to dehorn, thank goodness. But this was an easy chore, seventy seemed like nothing compared to how many head had to be worked out on the ranch.

About the only thing I didn't like on the ranch was when a pot load of calves were shipped in, and the calves on the bottom level had been pooped and peed on for the last 24 hours. Before they are ever turned out, you have to vaccinate, brand and cut them. And you had better be upwind (which never happened) while branding the calves who had urine dried on their hide, because the stink of burning hair and hide was far worse when it had been doused with urine. That smell permeated all of you, your hair, skin, clothes, boots. The only way to get it off was to bathe and wash your hair. You had to take your clothes off in the garage and leave them there until they were washed.

04/18/09 10:42 PM

#406

Jan- I have to give Russell partial credit for me getting through high school. Russell was really smart, me, not so much. The teachers assumed that since I was Russell's brother I was smart too. He went 3 years at OSU, then 4 years at OU Med School. My dad passed away the nite before Russell graduated from OU. He then went to John Hopkins for 7 years and completed the Surgery program there. Do you remember Larry Pennington? Larry also went to OSU and OU Med School. He also was accepted at John Hopkins. It was the first time that OU had sent 2 residents to John Hopkins in the same year. John Hopkins takes 19 residents per year from all over the world. The second year those 19 are cut to 4 then the next year those 4 are cut to 2. Russell and Larry were the 2 that got to complete the 7 year surgery program. Russell and Larry are now both at the OU Health Science Center. Larry is over the Transplant Surgery Department and Russell is Chairman of the Surgery Department. He kinda specializes in Pancreas surgery, but does all kinds of 'general' surgery. Have you heard of 'Board Certified Surgeons'? Russell is the board. That has really taken a toll on him. He is talking retirement when I thought he never would. Google Dr. Russell Postier sometime and see all the stuff that comes up on him.

04/18/09 11:01 PM

#407

Dean and I spent some time in Montana with Jan and Dick several years ago. We were lucky enough to be there when it was time to work their calves. Jan cooked a huge meal to take to the pasture and off we went to gather the cows and calves. Several of their friends and neighbors were also there to help. There was around 16 of us on horseback and we divided up 4 ways and went in 4 different directions, all meeting back up an hour or so later with all the cows and calves. The scenery was breathtaking! A portable pen was set up and as the calves were roped, Jan and I ear tagged, as others vaccinated, branded, and cut the calves. It was a great day out on the range!

04/18/09 11:14 PM

#408

Judy- You gathered cows and calves from 180,000 acres? Were you up there the entire year? No wonder you and Jan are so close.
How DID Coach Blevins lose his fingers? I was always too afraid of him to ask. He was the first one to 'bust' me, but not the last.

04/19/09 12:12 AM

#409

No Steve, that wasn't on the Two Crow when Judy and Dean came up. Dick and I had leased a place of our own when the Two Crow sold. We ran 300 plus mother cows on the place we had. The Two Crow there were 900 to brand depending on how good the grass was, plus we ran yearlings. They got branded when they came off the truck and all necessary shots. When we shipped we would start gathering about 2 wks before shipping. Dick flew and spotted the cattle, and they would direct the riders to what coulee and ridge to go down or up. We threw everything on water, then would head to the main drainage. The cattle would be put in a different pasture while we returned to the breaks to start all over again, dumping everything gathered into the pasture closer to the house. This went on for a couple of weeks, usually during that time only our family and the hired man did the gathering. When we would come out of Crooked Creek we would get a crew together and head for the top. It was hard work but exciting. We use to go on wagon trains, one summer we hosted one. We had 150 people at the ranch, Dick cooked the meat and we potlucked everything else on the first night. We also had a lightening storm go thru as we are gathered below our house for supper, the lightening hit and knocked several horses down that were tied to trailers we ran to the trailers and got inside them. To say the least we were lucky no one was injured. Some of these folks were just friends who came out for a party and supper, not everyone went on the train. I think we had 10 wagons and several horseback when we took off the next morning. It was so much fun. Where we live now the mosquitos are so bad we can't enjoy the outdoors like we use to. I mean bugs like in the jungles, UNBELIEVABLE. I will google Russell. Judy and I are IMing right now, so have to get back to her, she's looking something up right now on the internet.

04/19/09 12:18 AM

#410

Jan- Did Rowdy(Clint Eastwood) ever join you guys? Let me know the next time you do that and I can be 'Cookie'. I'll bring my 1 iron. Even God can't hit a 1 iron (ask Bruce).

04/19/09 12:39 AM

#411

No Steve, Rowdy never showed up, besides he'd of gotten saddle sore. Daddy would come up in the fall to ride, he always called Dick MR. Favor. You would have to be Wishbone if you want to cook. Boy could I have used you back then, wish I had known you cooked and cleaned. Susan is a lucky woman. It's been a very interesting life, and we've done lots of crazy, fun and dangerous things. But probably not any different than anybody else. We just did them in a very big chunk of the Missouri Breaks. We were at home in our situation but a fish out of water in the big city. So when I show up in V town everyone watch out for this poor little (I wish) country girl..OK maybe not V town, but the Tulsa Airport scares the hell out of me. Night, Bring your 1 iron and you can beat the rattlers with it.

04/19/09 12:50 AM

#412

Wonder why none of the new people are conversing with us. Surely they have interesting facts and comments to share like some of us have..Our facts and comments are interesting aren't they? Well of course, the others must be shy. You don't think we're the only ones to go out when we were growing up and did stuff, do you? That can't be true cause I know some of the stuff Tooter pulled, and a few others, they must be afraid of the Street Scenes in the Journal.

04/19/09 09:56 PM

#413

No Steve, it wasn't 180,000 acres, but it was dang sure bigger than the Lazy P! It was on several sections I'm sure, and wide open. It had lots of elevations to it and we went from bottom to top and down again bringing in the cows and calves. It was quite amazing for me to look over a ways and see an elk grazing. It was a opportunity of a lifetime for me.
Dick and Jan also took us up to an area nearby, where you could still see the stony remains of where Indians had staked their teepees at the top of a hill so they could see in all directions. I loved it.

04/20/09 09:19 AM

#414

Jan- By the way, I would not trade my childhood for all the tea in China.
All- It seems that the Fed's raided Lavanna's home, confiscated her computer and found several diploma's that belonged to our classmates that did NOT graduate with us. At last report she was trying to escape into Canada. Her attorney claims that it was Bill and Chuck that 'planted' the documents in her home.
Lavanna- Contact Jan on how to survive the winters up there.

04/20/09 11:18 AM

#415

Bruce Evans

When is the Reunion? I want to come but dates are evaporating daily. I need a window; June is disappearing, July, August or is this Message Forum our 40th reunion?

04/20/09 12:12 PM

#416

Bruce- I have a great idea. Why don't you just send your sisters to represent you.

04/20/09 12:57 PM

#417

Bruce it would be awful if you don't come, and remember you are the Master of Ceremonies. Steve, I looked up Russell. OH MY how impressive, your family has to be so very proud. I remember him as being one of the nicest guys ever. I told Judy I wouldn't have reconized him though, so I got an annual out and compared the then and now, still I'm not sure I would have known him. You on the other hand haven't changed, nor Bruce. God is so good to men. Do you suppose Lavanna was on the 10 most wanted list? Maybe she should have gone to Canada rather than NY. I guess the statute of limitations should be up by now, (did I spell that right, wish this had spell check) Mrs.Duke and Mrs Tyler would be so disappointed in me. Have a great day, it's going to be in the 70's here, but with the heat the mosquitoes are going to explode out of the ground. And then it is miserable here. OH well it's always something. Off to take the dogs out for their walk, cowdogs in town make for unhappy cowdogs. Later.

04/20/09 01:04 PM

#418