Sam Lively: I all I ever wanted was to be a cowboy

All I ever wanted was to be a cowboy

For years, the cowboy has stood as an American icon. With such character traits as hard working, loyal and immovable. Honest, chivalrous, and valiant in his actions, it’s easy to understand why.

When I was a kid, my mom would take us down to the Hooper arena to watch my brother and his friends get on practice bulls. Most of these bulls were fresh

off the desert and had never seen people before. In their undomesticated excitement, it seemed the beasts wanted nothing but these cowboys souls!

I’ll never forget the night Josh had a bull flip over on him in the chute. When most folks would instantly escape from underneath this hateful ton of fresh beef, Josh hollered “outside boys” as a gesture to let’em loose.

We all gasped as the big animal rolled across our older brother to get to its feet. Now, quit was a word Josh wouldn’t use, he just held on tighter while the critter desperately tried to toss him. Despite all the wild bull’s efforts, the young cowboy stepped off, and hustled out of the arena as the “8 second” buzzer ran g.

Safely located on the other side of the fence, his peers gathered to congratulate him. To this day I’ll never forget that split-second smile and wink he shot me while he received all the crowd’s back pats and praises. Not only did Josh solidify his position in my life as my hero at this moment; this is when I realized that all I ever wanted to be

Musings of a cowboy

Sam Lively Rodeo Cowboy

was a cowboy. Many times, since that dusty summer night my older brother has been the perfect example of what a cowboy can withstand and endure.

Just a few years ago at the Beaver county fair and rodeo, I watched a high-horned headslinging beast of a bull rip his safety vest right off him in the middle of his 87point ride!

When asked about these courageous feats, his response is always a sarcastic “what was I supposed to do, let go?” How lucky was I to have him for a role model?

There have been times both in and out of the arena, life’s “bulls” have tried to get me down, and many times they’ve succeeded. But i can tell you, that I never “just let go”, I give them all a good fight!

With that being said, I hope you can take a little piece of these stories with you. Young or old, you never know what cowboys are watching, or who may idolize you. So, when the chips are down and the deck is stacked against you, remember, you just let go, or you can be a cowboy and hold on tighter.

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