STORY OF MY LIFE WITH ROXIE THE BURRO

THE STORY OF MY LIFE 

WITH ROXIE THE BURRO 

I rarely write long, story-like posts but

there is no way to shorten this one. 

So, grab a coffee, or vodka and read away.

I had a wonderful brother~ CS Charlie (I will tell you all someday what the CS stands for- it has something to do with poultry & excrement and that’s all I’m saying for now no matter how hard you beg). 

I hope he is smiling down from heaven on this blog today because he would certainly remember Roxie The Burro. 

Mr Ed (the talking horse)

had nothing on her. 

She had her own way of communicating.

When we were kids we wanted a horse. My father had plow horses but they weren’t for riding so we were always begging for a pony. 

My father thought that a pony might be a bit "dangerous" so he started looking around for a suitable substitute. What do you think he found? Aha! I see you have already peeked at the picture. I’ll bet you thought it was a donkey, didn’t you? Well, you can bet an ass it is NOT a donkey (or an ass)-it is a burro. No purer form of stubbornness has ever existed-

(except for Scruffy the Cockapoo-my current boyfriend)

Don't let that sweet face fool you!

I remember clearly the day we picked Roxy up. 

It was down in the Valley and my father let me go along. 

He also took the hired hand, Louie Wheeler, with us. 

My father traded a cow for the burro...

let me tell you...

I think he got screwed 

but that was his own doing. 

We got Roxie loaded up into the back 

of the 1953 Chevy truck and 

started home with her. 

I think there were two stop signs 

in Athens, PA. at the time.

 At both stops Roxie 

threw her head back and 

brayed til Kingdom Come. 

She was a brayer extraordinaire! 

My father laughed almost as loud 

as she brayed 

but I can remember Louie 

slumping over in his seat 

and pulling his hat down a bit.

 

As I got older 

I realized that it was because 

he didn’t want anyone to recognize him 

and connect him with 

the unspeakable sight 

riding behind him.

We got her home....

Oh boy! oh boy! Oh boy! 

I can’t WAIT to get on that "horsie" 

(as I called her). 

Careful-careful-get on her carefully, 

my father admonished me.

 

Ever so gently I was placed on her back. 

Hmmmm...she didn’t like that much 

so she sat down. 

Try again- haul Roxie to her feet 

and I get back on. 

She sits down again. 

My father thought 

we should give her a break 

and let her get used to the place. 

She had a nice little barn off the main barn with a lowered door frame...

remember this because 

it is important later in the story.

 Roxie would, on occasion let us ride. 

However, we learned to not ride any farther from the barn 

then we wanted to walk home. 

The first time it happened 

I was up in the back field 

and quite a distance from the barn.

She got tired of carrying me around. 

First she lowered her head down 

hoping I would slip off....ah...

but I had learned her tricks! 

Next she dropped to her knees in front-

No go-this cowgirl is hanging on 

and staying straight-

even if my feet are flat on the ground.

 

Uh Oh-this isn’t working...

Let’s try ROLLING. 

There is NO way you can stay on a rolling burro-

take my word for it. 

Mission accomplished-she gets up-

takes one glance back-

 and merrily trots back to the barn riderless-

God bless her soul 

Yeah, yeah...I hear the Christians among us

 and I AM a believer but THEY say

-animals don’t have souls but–

the way she looked at me-the depth in those eyes...

Okay! Okay!..no soul, I get it-

Okay-God bless her anyway!

If, for some reason, she was out 

and spotted the barn, 

and didn’t ditch you first, 

she would lay her ears flat back 

against the side of her head and 

RACE towards the barn. 

You had to hold on and duck 

because a low door 

to the stall did not stop her. 

However, it WOULD stop you 

if you are sitting upright. 

You know-no matter how good/bad/ugly 

that old burro was- 

we loved her and 

she was a fun part of our childhood. 

Thinking of getting one now, are you? 

Well, I do have one piece of advice for you. 

It’s simple to understand-

IF you are thinking about getting a burro- DON’T! 

NOW-just wondering because I am used to doing short posts,

Do you like reading these longer 

story-like posts

or do I keep them short?

Inquiring minds want to know.

ps-Today is my father's birthday.

There is rarely a day that goes by

that I don't think of him.

He died when I was 21.

He would love this story.