Tag Archives: rodeo

Sikestonians and the Rodeo

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I have reached a point in my life where I live on my own and have to make time to go home. Alex is also in my same situation and we take turns visiting each other’s families. This creates quite the dilemma during holidays when we want to spend Christmas with each other as well as our families that just so happen to live 500 miles apart. But the one holiday that is never debated on where it will be spent is the one that falls in the beginning of August every year- Rodeo.

There are always questions that you never have to ask because you should know the answer. The people that ask these rhetorical questions are typically teachers or sarcastics (yep, made that word up but I like it here). Anyone else that is seriously presenting one of these questions should probably just be answered with one of the most popular rhetorical questions of all: “why are you so stupid.” When it comes to Sikestonians, there is a list of these questions that need not be asked. Here are a few of my favorites (I’ll even include the answers for my non-Sikestonian readers):

  1. Are you going to join Red Peppers? The answer is always, yes. Duh. Not only am I joining, but I’ll be a legacy. Potentially a double or triple legacy. And now I’ll just assume that you are from out of town or a transfer student. You’re welcome for filling you in so you can be sure to join now as well. See you at the Tea.
  2. Do you want to go eat at Lambert’s? No. Absolutely not- unless I’m hosting out-of-town visitors that have never been or some big celebratory occasion that does not fall during holidays, summer, rodeo, or any other major tourism time. Even then, I’ll probably have to think about it…
  3. Should I wear shoes to run an errand? No. Every gas station and liquor store, as well as the donut/ice cream shop and the dry cleaners have a drive-thru. No need to get out of the car and into civilization for anything. Period.
  4. Are you going to Rodeo? Simply put, this is my favorite question and I refuse to answer because any true Sikestonian will be talking, preparing, shopping, and pregaming for the annual festivity long before the performance comes to town- leaving no room for questioning or misunderstanding.

Needless to say, my 23rd year at rodeo was just as fabulous as the previous 22. This year was the 61st anniversary for the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo and the 20th anniversary of my dad’s year as chairman of the rodeo. After being raised on the rodeo grounds, it gets in your blood- and you can’t help but smile through the mud on your freshly shined boots, and the push-your-way-through-drunken-debaucheries just to get a hot dog, and fighting back screams when the rope folds perfectly around that left horn. There’s just somethin bout that damned ole rodeo.

Last year was Alex’s first rodeo experience and though he had a good time, I think he was a little shocked. But this year, he was a true sophomore in knowing exactly what he was getting into and being prepared for a great time. As the reunion commenced, he jumped right in like a local. After the first night we agreed that we should save all our vacation days next year to be there the entire week….but after the third night, it was clear that rodeo is a fleeting event once a year for a very good reason. And I think we’re perfectly fine with only staying for a few days instead.

My dad once said that Spence and I were unlucky to have been raised by a father who doesn’t get into sports like baseball and football, instead hauling us into the rodeo lifestyle. I never saw it as unlucky by any measure. It’s a blessing that I’m proud of- and that’s why rodeo will always be my favorite holiday that will never be disputed.

Until next year, LONG LIVE COWBOYS.

Oh and in case you missed the clown being damned for making fun of Obama during the Missouri State Fair rodeo performance, you probably don’t have to ask a Sikestonian how they feel about that either. Take a joke and stop crying “racism” at every little poke. Comedians have used political figures and celebrities for their sketches for years because they are people that we all recognize. Wouldn’t be nearly as funny if the clown had impersonated his uncle because not many people could relate to a stranger. When people make fun of George W. Bush and Lindsay Lohan, it’s not because they’re white; it’s because it’s funny. Get the chip off your shoulder…oh, and welcome to America- we support free speech here…most of the time.

Just because I don’t want to end on a bad note, I’ll leave you with this link to a blog that will surely lift your spirits and restore your faith in humanity…probably not without a few good tears: http://thoughtcatalog.com/2013/19-displays-of-love-affection-inspiration-thatll-make-you-cry/

Love always,

Addie

“Everyone knows the Sikeston rodeo is like a fashion show. And you’d better show up.” -Momma

not A merica, THE MERICA

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Happy day-before-the-Forth-of-July! I want to take a moment to reflect on the glorious country that I call home. This blog is dedicated to the men and women who love this place enough to put it all on the line, and for that I am forever grateful. We so often take our freedom and liberties for granted, so I encourage everyone to revere this great nation and all that she stands for. Never forget the history this soil holds and all that it has overcome, and all that it continues to promise.

Two of my favorite quotes about life are about as equivalent to being American as it gets: “If you want to be happy, be” and “If you don’t like where you are, move” perfectly explain the majority of human problems as well as the solution. We are lucky enough to live in one country with 50 very different states- if you don’t like one, you’re sure to find one that you do. Though I have visited less than half of the states (so far), I still have an endless amount of respect and appreciation for each one for the depth and character they add to our “melting pot.” Here’s a list of the 50 things I personally love about our 50 states, even the one’s I haven’t been to yet…

Alabama- Football. And one smokin’ hot guy with manners! (aka, Alex)

Alaska- Deadliest Catch, dog mushing, and Mt. McKinley making the tallest point in the biggest state

Arizona- Grand Canyon

Arkansas- the LAKE

California- the pursuit of happiness and self always seem to be welcomed out there…and they have the huge trees in the Sequoia National Park

Colorado- Hiking, skiing, and the first place I ever saw a wild prairie dog

Connecticut- strangely entertaining hunting locations and nice homes

Delaware- the first of the great states, Fishers popcorn, and the lady bug being the state bug…

Florida- Disney World—so magical!

Georgia- Peaches, golf, and peanut festivals. It can keep the gnats, though.

Hawaii- Beaches everywhere…that’s a dead give away.

Idaho- Potato chips, hot springs, and the Nez Perce legends…they should have kept the Appaloosas…

Illinois- Chicago, the greatest rival to the Cards,…and the home of some of my best friends from college.

Indiana- Purdue. Agriculture forever.

Iowa- the crookedest street in the world, Snake Alley

Kansas- can’t say much because I was raised to hate a Jayhawk, but thank goodness for farm country

Kentucky- One word: Bourbon.

Louisiana- Cajun food and Swamp People

Maine- Lobster

Maryland- I read once that their Mcdonald’s offer crab rolls…

Massachusetts- Smarty pants schools that beat Asian math and science scores everytime.

Michigan- Detroit and vehicles- thanks, yall.

Minnesota- MALL OF AMERICA

Mississippi- Blues music, laid back lifestyles, Mugshots cheeseburgers, and Hail to Dear Ole State!

Missouri- The Bootheel and me, obviously. Although I should also mention the Sikeston rodeo, Lamberts, and the Cardinals.

Montana- the Horse Whisperer and the largest buffalo herd thanks to Ted Turner

Nebraska- corn, corn, corn, and the College World Series

Nevada- Sin City, baby

New Hampshire- first of the 13 colonies to declare independence from England- that’s FREE!

New Jersey- Jersey Shore and all of its awful, raunchy entertainment.

New Mexico- Hot Air Balloon Festival

New York- Sex and the City and the Freedom Tower, all 1776 feet of it

North Carolina- Nicholas Sparks and his fabulous romance novels

North Dakota- Cowboy Country, baby

Ohio- “Cleveland ROCKS!” oh, and so does Clark Gable…

Oklahoma- Oklahoma City, Still Water, Calf Fry, Corona Cartel, I could go on for days about this place…

Oregon- Carousel Horses and their ever-surprising football jerseys

Pennsylvania- HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE

Rhode Island- home to the oldest operating tavern in the country, the White Horse Tavern, which opened in 1673

South Carolina- Hilton Head

South Dakota- the fact that this is referred to as the “Bad Lands” is just awesome…

Tennessee- itty bitty Paris spared my liquor habits in college and Nashville because, duh.

Texas- the “don’t tread on me” state of mind rules in the long horn state- and I love it!

Utah- Rainbow Bridge, the largest natural land bridge

Vermont- BEN AND JERRY’S ICE CREAMMMMM

Virginia- Gettysburg and the Pentagon, demonstrating the best defense for hundreds of years and counting…

Washington- I don’t remember much about Washington because I was young when we visited, but I did enjoy picking wild strawberries out of people’s front yards…and eating them.

West Virginia- 75 percent of this state is forest…because “mountaineers are always free”

Wisconsin- CHEESE

Wyoming- rodeos, frizz-free hair, and Yellow Stone.

And if you’re not singing “50 Nifty United States” yet………..I bet you are now….

“…each individual state contributes a quality that is great…”

But the greatest of all is knowing that no matter what state you’re in, you’re an American. And if you don’t like it, “man we’ll light up your world like the 4th of July. Brought to your courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue.”

Here’s a list of a few more great things about ‘Merica:

1. We have the best “away colors”- camo

2. Back to back World War Champs

3. On a scale of one to America, how free do you feel right now?

4. No more prohibition means we can get “star spangled hammered” or “red, white, and boozed” anytime we want.

5. Flags a wavin’, guns a blazin’

6. Merica needed a nice vacation home, so she bought Hawaii.

Ok I’ll stop now. But on a serious note, always remember those that serve so we can call our home the Land of the Free. They sacrifice everything” not because they hate what’s in front of them, but because they love what’s behind them.” (quote from a friend that is currently serving for us)

I hope everyone has a fantastic 4th filled with family, friends, BBQ, fireworks, and a body of water celebrating our heritage. Let’s put politics and differences aside for one day and revel in the complexities that keep us aware and give everyone a voice, and more importantly, a chance. This is our home, let’s be thankful.

“This Lady may have stumbled, but she never fell…From the sound up in Long Island out to San Francisco Bay, and ev’ry thing that’s in between them is our home. And we may have done a little bit of fighting amongst ourselves, but you outside people best leave us alone. Cause we’ll all stick together and you can take that to the bank. That’s the cowboys and the hippies and the rebels and the yanks. You just go and lay your hand on a Pittsburgh Steeler fan and I think you’re gonna finally understand.”- Charlie Daniels Band

Merica.

Love always,

Addie

“…meals are memorials that teach us how to move, history moves in us as we raise our voices and then our glasses to pour a little our for those who poured our everything for us, we pour ourselves our for them, so they can eat again.” –Jake Adam York, excerpt from his poem, “Grace”

sweet, sleepy dreams…

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When I came home for Christmas break I never had any intentions of taking a break from this blog…however the negligence is obvious in fact that I only have one blog for the entire month of December as well as the comment made by Aunt Laurie last weekend: “Everytime I go to your blog it’s the same hair flipping one.” That said, it’s time to get back to business…

I could bore you with my endeavors over this seemingly endless break, or tell you all about my Christmas presents, but I would rather skip the junk talk. I don’t figure anyone really cares that much anyways. But I do have to give a shout out to a very reminiscent Christmas Eve dinner with the cousins at the “kids table”: we all laughed for about an hour over the goofy things we used to all do as kids. A few of the notable memories were the ridiculous games we used to make up and the extent of the holiday madness that fell upon Nan’s house with 12 grandchildren all under the age of 10. “Spence is the Monster”, “Around the House Tag”, “Lego Wars”, “Hide and Seek in the Basement”, “Yahtzee Pool”, and “Disappear” were among the favorite games we coined (aren’t the names so original!?). As for the holidays that we experienced growing up in my family, I cannot simply explain them in one sentence. Instead, let me paint a picture for you:

Christmas Eve night at Nans approximately 1998: KIDS EVERYWHERE. Presents stacked as tall as the giant Christmas tree in the tiny living room that was bursting at the seams with stressed out parents, hormonal teenagers, groups of little heathens in a panic over the excitement of the presents, and one set of overly active grandparents (Nan and Papa). The energy in the room was indescribably amped and the parents forced each child to sit in their “designated area” on the floor and wait patiently while the gifts were dispersed. There was always a little dispute when one  kid got to climb under the tree to get the presents in the very back…of course that was always the “favorite kid” which tended to cause a bit of hostility among the overly stimulated youngsters. Then all at once, the paper shredding began. Sparkly bows, pretty paper, and nametags were flying through the air while screams of joy and well-practiced “oohs” and “ahhs” rang throughout the room. Parents pretended to be excited about the noisy new toy that their child just opened, while figuring out to do with yet another tractor (or in my case, Barbie doll) that will obviously not fit into the already overflowing toy box. After all the toys were open we were all forced to be silent while Papa called “Santa’s secret phone line” and one by one we all took turns listening to Santa. Eventually we would all make our way home where Aunt Laurie would call with an update on Santa’s whereabouts according to the radar and we would all tuck into bed, secretly scheming ways to catch the fat man, until sleep overtook us and ruined the plan.

This was the typical Christmas for us for many years until we finally moved the holiday festivities to Aunt Sandy and Uncle Marks (at the time) new house. By this point, the heathens were all a little bit older, however no more mature- meaning that they now fought over who got the privilege of passing out presents. After opening the gifts, instead of calling Santa we played one of the most infamous original “cousin games”- Around the House Tag. It actually began as a game we played inside the house, which was absurd considering the number of people that filled the house, leading to multiple collisions and accidents. Needless to say, we were forced outside in the freezing cold, but everyone knows the resiliency of a kid is out of this world so the temperature was no threat to us. We would run as far and fast as we could for hours on end, eventually having to create very specific rules and guidelines because homemade games always present those tricky “gray areas” where no one really knows who is “it” anymore.

I know that was a little much to take in, but I thoroughly enjoyed our reminiscent moment and just wanted to share just one of the many crazy experiences that I had growing up as a child in an over populated family.

I will throw this out there one last time: sitting at home in Sikeston while everyone else has already returned to Stark really makes me sad. But in the end, I know that I only have one more semester at dear ole’ Murray, so I better get excited and soak it all up while I still can. (I promise I’ll eventually stop complaining about this….a surprise visit from Kelly last week helped get me excited for the return as we considered all the trouble we can get into our last semester in the MKY!)

Martin Luther King’s birthday is coming up so get excited….whoot whoot…

“Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace” and “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.” Look them up…love them both.

Ok, now that I got all the BS out of the way, it is time for the list of the memorable moments of 2010:

  1. SEC brought home the national championship
  2. Alice in Wonderland, Twilight Eclipse, Inception, Toy Story 3, and Facebook finally gets a movie!
  3. Antione Dodson- “Hide ya kids, hide ya wife”
  4. All of Katie Perry’s songs and Jason’s new album
  5. Rescuing the Chilean coal miners
  6. H1N1 epidemic is declared over! (or at least back to normal)
  7. The International Space Station surpasses the record for the longest human occupation in space
  8. Lady Gaga’s outfits
  9. CERN scientists actually trap antimatter…Angels and Demons flash back
  10. BP oil spill
  11. Earthquake in Hati
  12. Bret Michaels and Hugh Hefner get engaged (not to eachother, of course)
  13. Oprah’s last show…
  14. WAYNE IS REALEASED FROM JAIL
  15. Lynard Skynard came to the rodeo…yeah, I said it
  16. Murray is a buzzer-shot away from the Sweet 16
  17. State makes it to the Gator Bowl
  18. Prince William popped the question…finally, a royal wedding in my lifetime!

I’m sure there were many more noteworthy events that I am overlooking, but I am drawing this blog to an end. Sleep is creeping its way into my body and is quickly taking over. I promise to write again soon!

Love always,

Addie

“You know that place between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming? That’s where I’ll always love you, Peter Pan. That’s where I’ll be waiting.” -Tinkerbell