So I moved up into the cover, where I could build a fire, have some coffee, and take stock of the situation.”
–Lou Bradshaw (Cain)
Hang on, Pardner, whoopi — Powder River let ‘er buck. Here we come 2023. Lookee ahead, the trail looks clear, but we don’t go gettin’ lazy on the trail. Ol’ slewfoot might be settin’ a deadfall, or have some of his varmints layin’ in wait for us.
The ol’ mule is packed tightly and we’re on our way, the Lord as our guide. Don’t be frettin’, Pard, I’ve plenty of coffee packed. Enough to get us to our first stop. Yuh know, at the beginnin’ of each year’s trail, we need to stop an’ look over the land we’re gettin’ ready to cross. Check our supplies, we don’t want to get caught without enough coffee or ammunition for we don’t know the twists and turns of the trail ahead.
Ahhh, be nice to just sit here and gather in the aroma of that brew–the taste ain’t bad either. But the way is calling, time won’t sit still so we won’t neither. Before we go to saddlin’ up, we should take a minute to think of those pards who’ll not be headin’ into 2023. Some passed by the way. The devil got them at last, ha ha, but death is only momentary ’cause the Lord throws us up right into glory. He’s already traveled that trail and knows the way.
Speakin’ of coffee. Yuh remember that time up on the North Canadian when that rascal done shot up my coffeepot? Not the Canadian? Well, where was it then smarty-britches. The Purgatoire? Come to think of it, yur right. We were a day or so from Las Animas. We had to use my pan to make coffee. Ahh, the memories of past years.
So, Pard, as we travel remember this ain’t no tip-toe-through-the-tulips sorta ride. It’s for eternity. We need to be ready for anything that Old Scratch may have hidden for us. He’s lurkin’ around; saw some tracks yesterday. Yep, 2023, it’s ahead. I reckon there will be the troubles and trials like any other year. But we have to take the bad with the good if’n we’re goin’ to make it to Glory. So hang on, Pard, the trail is looming in front us. It’s time to tighten our cinches and be on our way. Yeehaw!
Vaya con Dios.