We recently had the annual Scott Valley Pleasure Park Rodeo here in Scott Valley. Bradley and I never came from real "rodeo going" folk. My dad always entered the horses in the parade, I think one year I organized an entry of kids when I was a kid, but anywho neither Bradley nor I went to the actual rodeo. This year broke the mold. The Thursday before the rodeo Carter was introduced to the idea of riding a sheep from his beloved Eileeny. I picked him up from her house and he excitedly told me how me was going to the "ro day o" and going to ride a sheep with his cowboy hat and boots. Like most things Carter gets excited about, I knew that I was doomed. Over the next few days we tried everything: threats of shots, promises of blood, intimidating and PG - 13 youtube videos of young mutton busters suffering terrible fates. Nothing phased the kid. He was DETERMINED. The day of the "ro day o" Carter enthusiastically tried to convince his twin buddies to join him. He even skipped breakfast at Bob's to go sign up.
Sadly, being the non- rodeo goers that we are, we missed the cutoff time. Not to be dream-killers we waited behind the chutes with an undeterred mutton-buster. Meanwhile, the beginning symptoms of the flu were plaguing our family and my mom had locked herself out of her home being as how it was the first time she had ever slept alone in the house in 29 odd years. Right before Carter was about to have his debut, Miles decided to leave a huge blowout all over Ne-ne's arm. Quickly spot-cleaning our unhygenic mess, mom and I headed for the chutes with cameras in tow and a very cranky one year old.
Technically, Carter didn't have a number to mutton bust but we were told that out of the 30 who are usually signed up, at least half back out. I have a thing against people who run races without registering and I felt that Karma was going to get me if I didn't properly register my young cowboy, but as soon as a chute opened up and Carter was offered a spot, ready or not here he went. He held onto the sheep until he hit the first bump and then he let go. Honestly, it was further than a lot of kids made it. I was just proud of him for wanting to do something new and intimidating, and following through with it. It didn't matter that neither he nor his parents had any experience, it was something he wanted to do and he followed through. He even earned a gold dollar for his efforts. Although I did feel bad about this recognition, seeing as how he wasn't officially registered, but I think we have a future of rodeos ahead of us as he proclaimed when he wiped his tears "Next year I'm going to ride a bull!"
