Manifolds, Manolos, and Manure
Ten years ago, my blue-eyed girl quietly entered the world one hot Father’s Day. It was literally the last time she was quiet.
Although our blue-eyed girl has always been an excellent student, her desire to learn and her grades this school year have far exceeded our expectations. Her only complaint has been not getting all A+s. Silly straight A’s, she wants straight A+s even in gifted reading and Spanish. Her interest in animals has only be dwarfed by her interest in earth science and Greek mythology. Even Harry Potter has been replaced on occasion by Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase.
In the last year she’s grown taller than her Godmother. Unfortunately, she still runs like said Godmother. And that is not a compliment to either of them. Unlike her Godmother who played keeper in soccer, my blue-eyed girl spends three seasons on the softball field. Her height and throwing arm lend itself to a lot of time on the left-hand side of the field. Her mother, on the other hand, spent her time behind the plate. Fortunately, she got my throwing arm and I got a volunteer coaching position.
Speaking of my blue-eyed girl, she makes my anxiety kick into high gear each and every time she and the big red beast fly around barrels or poles. It’s not the 15 plus hand big red beast that worries me, it’s her desire to go full speed all the time. The big red beast compensates when my blue-eyed girl gets off balance. He tolerates her when she’s not quite spot on with her cues. And he’s forgiving when her hands aren’t quite quiet or kind. His forgiveness runs a little thin unless he’s plied with copious amounts of treats.
What doesn’t give me heartburn or anxiety is her registered Holstein show calf, Red Carpet Lickey Split-ET, or as I call her “Lickey the Demon.” My blue-eyed girl assumed that a calf she befriended shortly after its birth would remain docile after not seeing or interacting with her for months. Oh, was she wrong. The last time my blue-eyed girl captured Lickey the Demon, she needed my farmer to help her because Lickey went over a wall and through a gate in a daring attempt to escape. Fortunately, my farmer was not only able to capture her but was also able to get a halter on her. It’s a good thing that fair is still a couple of months away. If you’re in the area, be sure to check out Lickey the Demon in the Dairy Cattle Barn.
In the past year, we’ve watched in amazement as our little girl has become a young lady. But what hasn’t changed is our desire for her to want to milk the cows. Drive the tractors. Farm. Just like her dad, grandfather, and great grandfather before her.