21 Comments

You have insured a lasting LOVING marriage for your daughter. My father, if he were still living would very much applaud you!

Expand full comment

Commenting on the last story about this custom, I told you how my husband of 42 1/2 years asked me if he should offer my father a bride price ... say, a rifle for example. I stared at him in disbelief followed by a smoldering ire that I was able to extinguish. Coming from a religions that still, in the depths of its menfolk's hearts, believes in the Covenant of Polygamy, his suggestion was not the half-joke he intended. He's been more careful ever since.

Expand full comment

I was thinking you should go ahead and build the fence.

My father, too, would cherish your wisdom.

J

Expand full comment

Cherish. I love that word when it comes to how we ought to be in relationship with those we claim to love.

There are stories in my house of my father polishing his hunting shotguns when new boys came over to pick me up for dates, and one of his cronies suggested he hire a P.I. before he "let me" marry my husband. Cherishing takes many forms.

I hope you get your longhorn saddle bull someday. Maybe someone in the area would be willing to rent you one?

Expand full comment

There is a small herd on the outskirts of Boise. They call them pasture ornaments, but what magnificent ornaments.

Expand full comment

Are the paintings now breeding little paintings?

Expand full comment

As in, “in kind.” That is, paying the interest in the kinder or children of the cattle?

No.

Expand full comment

That's deeply disappointing.

(It means he's going to give you another 38 paintings.)

Expand full comment

It is. At this point, I think I would be very happy with a single saddle-broke longhorn steer.

On the other hand, if he gives me a Picasso steer painting, I could make arrangements to resolve my need for cattle.

Expand full comment

Time for reopening negotiations. 😁

Expand full comment

Maybe. But you read what happened to me after I got a mortgage on Prince’s wife, then wrote it off. Honestly, I probably am too much of a softy to ever get a head. . .of cattle.

Expand full comment

Write to the point.

Expand full comment

Wonderful story, certainly keeps Mike on his toes!!

Expand full comment

Yikes. Poor Mike! You really mean business. He must REALLY love your daughter. I'm just saying.

Expand full comment

It’s a deterrent that helped scare off the worthless ones. And any young man who brings a dad’s daughter back past an agreed upon time quickly learns to identify and fear the sound of a Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun racking a shell somewhere in a darkened living room. It’s part of how potentially honorable young men learn to become honorable men.

I love and respect him as a son in law and my daughter’s husband, and we share very clear and mutually understood standards of respect, honor, and cherishing the women in our lives.

The shadow box is simply a subtle reminder that he keeps on the wall above his home desk.

Expand full comment

Respect her.... or else! That should do it.

Expand full comment

Subtle? Subtle? Methinks not! But appropriate? Absolutely. Wonderful story.

Expand full comment

It is my subtle way of demanding that the men in my life value, cherish, respect, and love the women in my life.

Expand full comment

The women in your life are so incredibly lucky to have you.

Expand full comment

I’m the lucky one!

Expand full comment

The luck 🍀 obviously runs both directions! Happy Sunday to all in Switter’s World!

Expand full comment