My old 4-H record book: FOUND!

So, I was going through some old scrapbooks and photo albums last night, and I found my 4-H record book from 1981-83! It brought back some memories...

I raised and trained a pair of oxen, Stan and Murray. Today's pic is from the Journal Transcript from 1983--photo by the legendary Fran Funk (Murray, my Distinguished Gentleman, is on the left, Stan, Mommy's Big Guy, is on the right). Stan and Murray gave many unauthorized hay rides at this 1983 Brooklyn (CT) Fair. I made a mint at fifty cents a ride. That hay wagon was FULL of kids. We had so much fun.

Unauthorized hay rides, you say? No permit? Nah. Little ol' me? Future punk rocker in the making here...

ANYWAY, Stan and Murray were my loves, my babies, my best friends. I raised them from infancy--feeding them a bottle as they sat in my lap--all the way to their big, strong, gentle, big horned adulthood. To say I loved them with all my heart is an understatement.

I saw them through potentially fatal illnesses and navel infections and trained them to the point where they did everything I asked like they were on a remote control. I asked, they did. They trusted me and wanted to please me. I won a few blue ribbons because of their willing natures; I would blow away the judges in the freestyle competition--I would remove the yoke, ride Murray, and ask Stan to do his "figures." They did it all impeccably.

The riding part was a crowd pleaser, for sure. Murray's strong broad shoulders easily carried me right into county fair glory. I was a star. I had Warhol's fifteen minutes. *wink*

Yeah, cut to the chase--just gimme that blue ribbon.

Anyway, back to that 4-H record book...

One entry from August 1983 says--"Murray is really hyper and restless!"

Now, I don't remember this. Brown Swiss don't *do* hyper and restless. What was Murray doing here? Walking a little faster? Asking for more butt scratches?

Another entry from December 1982 says, "did a little x-mas walk around the block with a wreath and christmas bells."

I remember that. The neighbors loved seeing a pair of big ol' brown Swiss walking around the neighborhood with bells and a wreath tied to their yoke. It was snowing lightly that day, too...I loved spreading Christmas joy. My neighbors would run out of their houses to see my guys and to wish me a Merry Christmas. The neighborhood kids especially loved Stan and Murray.

4-H was wonderful. I won ribbons at fairs, learned how to make a yoke, and had the honor of establishing a deep bond with large, gentle "babies."

I will never forget my Stan and Murray.

Thanks, guys.