alamocdc
Member
Al, posted a joke that reminded me of an old rancher I knew about 25 yars ago. His name was Andy Broyles and he was a real old west cowboy. I met Andy while working an oil well on his ranch in central Texas. He was 93 years old at the time and still lived at home on the ranch. He would come to my trailer on the drilling location every morning, have coffee and tell me stories of his life. One day we were standing outside having coffee and looking over his ranch. He still had a small herd of about 50 cows. He couldn't run more than that b/c he herded them on foot as he could no longer ride a horse. He told me a joke that day that I've never forgotten. It may be a bit corny, but it made me laugh (as did most of our conversations).
Two bulls, one old and one young, were standing in the pasture looking across the fence at all the hefers. The young bull said to the old one, "Why don't we jump this fence and have us a bunch of them hefers?"
The old bull replied, "Why don't we crawl under it and have one?"
Andy then told me that I reminded him of that young bull. No, I'm not exactly sure why, but it made me laugh nonetheless. Andy always made me laugh. On ocassion some of the oil company folks would ask me why I let him take up so much of my time. The answer was quite simple. I enjoyed Andy's stories... especially the ones about his experiences in the old west and the cattle drives. I came to value our friendship and was glad to have Andy's near constent interuption. I think Andy needed our daily talks as much as I. He had two children, neither of which was interested in the ranch. I remember feeling pity for him. What I'd have given to have something like that in my family. My grandfather was a share cropper in west Texas and a traveling preacher so he had nothing like that to pass on to his family. But we were very close. My grandfather had passed on by the time I met Andy and I think he may have reminded my of him some.
I ended up working about a half dozen wells on Andy's place and our friendship never waivered. He passed away a little over a year later and the kids couldn't wait to sell off the old man's place (except for the oil rights, of course). If I could have afforded it, I'd have bought it. But alas, all I have are my memories of this grand old gentleman. And they are memories I'm quite fond of.
Thanks, Al, for bringing Andy back to the forefront of my mind. I would that all could have such an experience. It has truly enriched my life.
Two bulls, one old and one young, were standing in the pasture looking across the fence at all the hefers. The young bull said to the old one, "Why don't we jump this fence and have us a bunch of them hefers?"
The old bull replied, "Why don't we crawl under it and have one?"
Andy then told me that I reminded him of that young bull. No, I'm not exactly sure why, but it made me laugh nonetheless. Andy always made me laugh. On ocassion some of the oil company folks would ask me why I let him take up so much of my time. The answer was quite simple. I enjoyed Andy's stories... especially the ones about his experiences in the old west and the cattle drives. I came to value our friendship and was glad to have Andy's near constent interuption. I think Andy needed our daily talks as much as I. He had two children, neither of which was interested in the ranch. I remember feeling pity for him. What I'd have given to have something like that in my family. My grandfather was a share cropper in west Texas and a traveling preacher so he had nothing like that to pass on to his family. But we were very close. My grandfather had passed on by the time I met Andy and I think he may have reminded my of him some.
I ended up working about a half dozen wells on Andy's place and our friendship never waivered. He passed away a little over a year later and the kids couldn't wait to sell off the old man's place (except for the oil rights, of course). If I could have afforded it, I'd have bought it. But alas, all I have are my memories of this grand old gentleman. And they are memories I'm quite fond of.
Thanks, Al, for bringing Andy back to the forefront of my mind. I would that all could have such an experience. It has truly enriched my life.
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