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When you live near NATO bases, one of the perks is getting to attend the traveling shows that come through. One such show was a western theme and thanks to my boyhood friend, I was solidly hooked on all things cowboy.
So, I showed up in my best western duds: jeans, chaps, red boots, checkered shirt, cowboy hat and of course my brace of cap-pistols - fully loaded.
The first act was pretty horrible; in fact the guy was out there all of 5 minutes before riding off shouting obscenities at the kids. I still have no clue what set him off but my mom had a lot of words to explain to this young man!
Next up was Roy Rogers and he put Trigger through every routine I think that horse ever learned. Then you need some dogs and ponies to run around. Great stuff for young minds. Presently an extremely tall man was standing by me and he crouched down and asked me if I was a cowboy.
"Yes sir! I'm two gun Chip!" and with that I let off a few rounds. Oh yah, ‘Chip’ was my early nick name – have no clue as to why, but better than many other names I have been called later in life!
"Well, son, you know I am a cowboy too."
"Really? Just like Hop-a-Long Cassidy?"
His mouth sort of fell open, eyes stopped focusing and then he started to smile. Roy Rodgers was just walking up and he burst out laughing when he heard that one.
"Well, Duke, looks like he knows a cowboy when he sees one!"
'Duke' looked up and his smile widened as he rose and stuck his hand out, "Sly......"
I turned to my mother and asked, "How come that man thinks he is a cowboy when he dresses like a city-slicker? And how come he thinks Roy is shifty?"
That brought even more laughter but no one would share the joke with me!
Mom just took my hand and told me we needed some ice cream to think through this...........
So, I showed up in my best western duds: jeans, chaps, red boots, checkered shirt, cowboy hat and of course my brace of cap-pistols - fully loaded.
The first act was pretty horrible; in fact the guy was out there all of 5 minutes before riding off shouting obscenities at the kids. I still have no clue what set him off but my mom had a lot of words to explain to this young man!
Next up was Roy Rogers and he put Trigger through every routine I think that horse ever learned. Then you need some dogs and ponies to run around. Great stuff for young minds. Presently an extremely tall man was standing by me and he crouched down and asked me if I was a cowboy.
"Yes sir! I'm two gun Chip!" and with that I let off a few rounds. Oh yah, ‘Chip’ was my early nick name – have no clue as to why, but better than many other names I have been called later in life!
"Well, son, you know I am a cowboy too."
"Really? Just like Hop-a-Long Cassidy?"
His mouth sort of fell open, eyes stopped focusing and then he started to smile. Roy Rodgers was just walking up and he burst out laughing when he heard that one.
"Well, Duke, looks like he knows a cowboy when he sees one!"
'Duke' looked up and his smile widened as he rose and stuck his hand out, "Sly......"
I turned to my mother and asked, "How come that man thinks he is a cowboy when he dresses like a city-slicker? And how come he thinks Roy is shifty?"
That brought even more laughter but no one would share the joke with me!
Mom just took my hand and told me we needed some ice cream to think through this...........
