Cowkid

Every little cowkid’s dream is to have all the gear under the tree Christmas morning. Cowboy cuffs $19.00, gun and holster $49.00, spurs with straps $24.00, and child’s belt $19.50.

Now here’s a big pet! Or, more likely, the horse belonged to a traveling photographer who knew how to entice parents to part with some cash. We know little of the subjects, but the educated guess is it’s a Northfield scene in about 1900. Ride ’em, cowkids.

He told me Rosie rides horses at her uncle’s ranch, so I said “Cool!,” which was lame. When he asked me if I ride, I said “Oh sure!” which is what Ms. Nelson might call a hyperbole, or exaggeration, since the only time I ever did was when I was about four, at the pony ring at the Sonoma County Fair. Remember that? I was almost too scared to do it but you told me it would be OK, and then afterward I’m sure I went around pretending I was suddenly this great cowkid.