What a day! Started out on our walk with a short sleeved t-shirt and my vest. Not long into the walk I could have done without the vest. Must be in the 50's. My granddaughter and I headed out for a walk and maybe lunch if we found a place for that. I stuffed a couple of snacks in my pocket just in case but returned home with them both still uneaten. After navigating some residential streets sans sidewalk, we found ourselves at the square. The old courthouse standing tall before us we found a bench seat in the sun and took a time out to plot our next move. We went in a couple of businesses there on the square before seeking a suitable eating establishment for lunch. We soon found ourselves in a hat store with several display cases full of different types of mostly western style hats. The store smelled of leather too and had a couple of saddles on display as well. After we visited briefly with the Boston Terrier who came to greet us we talked to one of the salesman there. I asked about the extent of leather work they did and inquired about a guitar strap. Sure, we can make you a guitar strap. After unsuccessfully looking for a picture of a guitar strap in a picture album full of leather creations I asked about a ballpark figure of the cost of such an endeavor. I'm thinking it would be neat to have a nice leather guitar strap from the Cowboy capital. Even though I'm not a CW artist or write cowboy or rodeo songs it would still be nice to have a strap from Stephenville. I enjoy the cowboy culture as presented in stories, movies and to some degree, in real life. Yes, there are still cowboys. But my appreciation for them is largely based on second hand representatives such as Michael Martin Murphy. He has educated himself on a lot of cowboy history and I enjoy his family friendly concerts and willingness to refer to his faith when it's appropriate. My dad always said when he grew up he wanted to be a cowboy. At 82 he would tell you the same thing. In a way of thinking, I would like to be a cowboy too. Sorry for the diversion, back to the walk. So after some good Mexican food my granddaughter and I headed back home. On the way there was plenty of time to talk about a lot of different subjects. Eventually we landed on politics and economic matters. After a long winded explanation of the relationship between taxes and economic development and a quick treatment of how corporations and company's don't really pay taxes but simply increase the cost of the goods they produce to cover their taxes like any other liability. It's a complex subject all in all. She looks at me and says, it's like this is the real game of "Life". I laughed and hoped we all understand that this is the game that counts and we should be engaged in it to try to move it in the direction we think it should go.
