The Wilson's

Last night and today we have been to the Calgary Stampede to see the Grandshow and the rodeo events. We went to the Grandstand show last night and back this afternoon for the Rodeo Events. I was really missing Daddy when I was sitting in the grandstand and cheering on the cowboys. The Calgary Stampede still use Kessler stock for the bulls and the broncs.

Some of you probably don't know that Reg Kessler and Kessler Ranches have been supplying the rodeo stock to stampedes and rodeos around the world for years and years. Daddy worked for Reg Kessler breaking horses in Rosemary. Daddy also worked on the Knight Ranch in Raymond before Mom and Dad were married. Daddy was a real cowboy through and through. He loved breaking horses and wrangling cattle. When he got married he had to get a better job, but the horses were also his favorite. It was more fun than work for him.

He even loved his mule team that he broke the mules and trained them to pull his chariot. I will always remember the time he was working with his mules and we looked out and here come Daddy being dragged across the yard by the mules and the chariot and him yelling, "WHOA, WHOA" and the mules were running for the barn across the yard. His greatest joy was pulling the first load of grain through the new elevator at Claresholm when they opened their new grain elevator there. Lester Ann has the picture of his team of mules. Dad was so proud of his team of mules. They were very difficult to break for harnesses and the chariot, but Daddy perserveered and he made it. He hated to sell the team, but they just got to be too much for him. He was getting too old to work with the team.

I am sure he would have liked to be seating in the stands today watching the bull back riding, the saddle broncs and the bareback broncs. He also loved the girls barrel racing too.

I remember we always went to the Raymond Stampede on the July 1st, and watched their parade in the morning, then we would go eat Mother's picnic lunch of usually sandwiches, and watermelon and alway a new jug of rootbeer, that Mom had made at home. She used a syrup starter, and added yeast and water to it, and it would ferment and make rootbear that tasted just that A & W Rootbear. That was a tradition on July 1st. Then we always got to visit either at Still's or the Greep's house. Then back home to do chores by evening time. We always had so much fun at the Raymond Stampede.

Oh the memories of Daddy. I miss him so much.

Hope you all had a good weekend. Now it is back to work tomorrow. UGGGGH@@@!!!

Shirley