FARM MOM

By Ted Pannell

My father was a dairy rancher. At six or seven years old, I was

riding

horses and helping my father bring in the milk cows from the hills. I

was a

real cowboy and didn't know it until mom took me to the movie theater.

I loved the western shows with the cowboys riding their horses and

wearing

white or black hats, chaps, vest, and most impressive, guns and

holsters. I

didn't have a hat and wore overalls.

In the evenings, the three of us settled in the living room around a

wood

burner listening to the radio. Mom would read me stories of cowboys

and Indians.

There is one December night that I'll always remember. Mom, with a big

smile, handed me a new Sears catalog, saying, "Here, look at this. It

has pictures

of many things.

I'd never seen a Sears catalog before. It was like a book of dreams.

There

were glossy photos of beautiful kitchen and house wares, shinny tools,

and

farm equipment, camping gear, and colorful clothes for the entire

family.

When I came to the toys, I caught my breath. My toys were wood that my

dad

had made.

Then I saw it. A Red Rider cowboy suit; complete with white hat, red

vest,

red chaps and best of all, two pearl handled pistols. I couldn't take

my eyes

off it.

When I looked up, mom was staring and smiling at me. "Find something

you

like?" She said.

I pointed to the cowboy suit. "Where is this?"

"Oh, it's in a store far away."

"Can we go there?" I asked.

"No. It's too far."

Her answer made me sad, but I never stopped dreaming about that cowboy

suit.

On Christmas morning I came into the living room still sleepy eyed.

Mom and

dad were already up and the room was warm from the wood burner and I

noticed

there were more presents under the tree - my heart skipped a beat.

I rushed to the tree and there, lying stretched out, was that red

cowboy suit

with the two pistols. I was completely surprised. I touched it and

handled

the pistols like I'd seem in the movies and couldn't wait to get the

suit on.

I'll never forget the look on mom's face, the loving smile, so pleased

and

delighted at my excitement and happiness. I threw my arms around her,

and

wanted to cry. It then that I realized that somehow, moms, and Santa

must be

friends or have a very special connection.

Now, every Christmas, I think of my mother her wonderful smile, and

that red

cowboy suit with matching pistols.

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