I’m sitting at our kitchen counter where I eat my breakfast and for some reason do my best blogging. It’s Monday, the last day of this Memorial Day weekend and our two granddaughters, Kayla and Sage, who produce a rodeo extravaganza each Memorial Day are finishing up with a Jackpot team roping. 

Now flash back a few days and it’s the first day of Parkfield Rodeo. Zee and I are headed to the Parkfield Arena not just to watch all the different Rodeo events, but for me, to revel at how everybody responds to the rules that guide the weekend. There are no rules except, the Golden Rule which always brings out the best in people. This free feeling starts at the age of just walking, then the feeling carries to their teenage years and they all find joy in doing traditional kid things with very few cell phones in use. Most all the teenagers are entered in the Rodeo and with all the competitive juices flowing they are totally engrossed in their events and the adrenaline rush that comes with it. 

At eight years old, our grandson Kincade Varian rode in a helicopter that I had hired along with a Texas Cowboy pilot to help me gather some wild cattle on the backside of the ranch. After this first ride, he was hooked and told me he wanted to fly helicopters. Now, 12 years later, Cade is getting ready to give his grandmother her first ride ever in a Helicopter. I’m watching while Cade gets Grandma seated and buckled in, helmet and speakers ready to go, and gauges checked. And off they go! What I thought would be a close-to-the-ground short trip down our lower hayfield was changed at Zee’s request. She wanted to get a good view of the V6 from high above. Upon landing, the most hazardous part of the trip was getting out of this contraption as this little two-seater was designed with 35-year-olds in mind, not 85-year-olds. I followed next and it would be up to me to get in unassisted, as Cade needed to stay in this ungainly looking thing that didn’t look like it belonged in the sky. Now with much grunting and groaning, I am finally able to get my left leg over this stick that I guess was put there so if the pilot dies while we’re up in the wild blue yonder I’m supposed to grab it and then wobble it to a safe landing. Cade and I are airborne now and I’m seeing how many things from a helicopter give a person; a new perspective on the health of the land and where some repairs are necessary.

The next few moments gave testimony to Parkfield Magic at its finest. It’s 5:30pm and the Parkfield Rodeo is just starting and the arena is full of people, all sitting on their horses and singing our National Anthem. Cade says to me with a sparkle in his eye, “Why don’t we give them a fly-by?” I replied, “Sounds good to me, but stay just far enough away to not scare the horses.” I thought to myself, this is my kind of tribute to our country’s Memorial Day. For our audience, this fly by was certainly not The Blue Angels Flying Team but for me it fit exactly what Parkfield Magic is all about. Because it was spontaneous and full of tickle-your-funny-bone laughter for all to enjoy.

See Ya, 

Jack