Paul Colt's Blog, page 37
August 11, 2018
What's in this Stuff?
The patent medicine story is the story of an industry. A big industry that made a lot of hucksters a lot of money on pure flimflam, much of it highly flammable. Take Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup for example. Got a fussy teething baby? A little Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup taken as directed is your answer. That ‘directed’ part is important at the rate of 65grams of morphine to the ounce. More than a few babies got so soothed they never fussed again.
How about Dr. Collis Browne’s Chlordyne? It was good for all manner of complaints from coughs and colds to asthma and cholera symptoms. What’s in a name? Laudanum (alcohol laced opium), cannabis tincture and chloroform. Imitators substituted morphine for the laudanum. Feeling a little run down? Parker’s Tonic will pick you up at 41.6% 83 proof alcohol.
The money was good though. Lydia Pinkham had a brew for female complaints of the cycle. She raked in $300,000 a month in the 1880’s on a mixture of sugar water infused with 18% alcohol. Dr. Kilmer and his brother amassed an estate valued at $10 -15 million on miracle cures for imagined conditions. Dudley J. LeBlanc, State Senator (D) Louisiana, made his fortune curing cancer, epilepsy and serious diseases with Hadacol, a mixture of multivitamins, 12% alcohol and diluted hydrochloric acid. The latter opened the arteries, allowing the booze to work faster.
Patent medicines provided passports to all manner of intoxication in pursuit of curative promises. Take Tilden’s Extract for gout or rheumatism and buzz off on a potent cannabis extract. Join Queen Victoria and Thomas Edison, not to mention a couple of popes in a glass of Vin Mariani as a before bedtime aperitif. Bordeaux wine infused with cocaine should do the trick. Palmerton’s version, French Wine Coca would one day morph into Coca Cola.
For those poor unfortunates who found themselves addicted to one narcotic or another, you could break your drug habit with Habitina. Addicts were told to replace their addictive drug with sufficient doses of Habitina to “Support the system”. The remedy cost $2.00 a bottle and best of all, it worked. With 16 grains of morphine and 8 grains of heroin per ounce, it should. The only side effect, Habitina addiction.
Next Week: Medicine Cabinet Legacy
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Ride easy,
Paul
How about Dr. Collis Browne’s Chlordyne? It was good for all manner of complaints from coughs and colds to asthma and cholera symptoms. What’s in a name? Laudanum (alcohol laced opium), cannabis tincture and chloroform. Imitators substituted morphine for the laudanum. Feeling a little run down? Parker’s Tonic will pick you up at 41.6% 83 proof alcohol.
The money was good though. Lydia Pinkham had a brew for female complaints of the cycle. She raked in $300,000 a month in the 1880’s on a mixture of sugar water infused with 18% alcohol. Dr. Kilmer and his brother amassed an estate valued at $10 -15 million on miracle cures for imagined conditions. Dudley J. LeBlanc, State Senator (D) Louisiana, made his fortune curing cancer, epilepsy and serious diseases with Hadacol, a mixture of multivitamins, 12% alcohol and diluted hydrochloric acid. The latter opened the arteries, allowing the booze to work faster.
Patent medicines provided passports to all manner of intoxication in pursuit of curative promises. Take Tilden’s Extract for gout or rheumatism and buzz off on a potent cannabis extract. Join Queen Victoria and Thomas Edison, not to mention a couple of popes in a glass of Vin Mariani as a before bedtime aperitif. Bordeaux wine infused with cocaine should do the trick. Palmerton’s version, French Wine Coca would one day morph into Coca Cola.
For those poor unfortunates who found themselves addicted to one narcotic or another, you could break your drug habit with Habitina. Addicts were told to replace their addictive drug with sufficient doses of Habitina to “Support the system”. The remedy cost $2.00 a bottle and best of all, it worked. With 16 grains of morphine and 8 grains of heroin per ounce, it should. The only side effect, Habitina addiction.
Next Week: Medicine Cabinet Legacy
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Ride easy,
Paul
August 4, 2018
Medicine Shows
Medicine shows were like vaudeville troops traveling in brightly colored wagons. A show would hit town and set up shop, sometimes in a theater or a hall; but most often right there on the street. Each show was emceed by a ‘Doctor’ or ‘Professor’ who doubled as pitchman for tonics, elixirs and remedies for just about whatever ails a body. The doctor or professor persona brought an aura of medical or scientific credibility to the medicinal products offered.
The shows presented acts, often with circus quality entertainment to draw crowds. Muscleman acts were common, demonstrating fetes of strength that could be used to hawk some tonic to vitality. Native American acts or performances by mystic practitioners of some exotic art were also used to give an aura of ancient herbal secrecy to miracle ingredients. Between acts the doctor/professor pitched tonics and elixirs to the gathered crowd. Shills were commonly employed. A shill might step forward to volunteer his or her experience with some amazing medication, responsible for the cure of all manner of ailments and maladies. In other cases a shill in the crowd might succumb to some obvious distress, such as a convulsion which could be immediately relieved by administration of the offered wonder cure.
The shows ranged in scale from small mom and pop troops bottling tonic in their wagons between shows to large scale corporate affairs. The Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company of New Haven Connecticut makes a striking example of the latter. Founded by John E. “Doc” Healy and Charles “Texas Charlie” Bigelow the firm manufactured ‘Kickapoo Indian’ remedies in a factory. Kickapoo remedies were sold across the country by as many as twenty-five traveling shows. These shows featured jugglers, acrobats, fire eaters, dancers and more.
Next Week: What’s In This Stuff?
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Ride easy,
Paul
The shows presented acts, often with circus quality entertainment to draw crowds. Muscleman acts were common, demonstrating fetes of strength that could be used to hawk some tonic to vitality. Native American acts or performances by mystic practitioners of some exotic art were also used to give an aura of ancient herbal secrecy to miracle ingredients. Between acts the doctor/professor pitched tonics and elixirs to the gathered crowd. Shills were commonly employed. A shill might step forward to volunteer his or her experience with some amazing medication, responsible for the cure of all manner of ailments and maladies. In other cases a shill in the crowd might succumb to some obvious distress, such as a convulsion which could be immediately relieved by administration of the offered wonder cure.
The shows ranged in scale from small mom and pop troops bottling tonic in their wagons between shows to large scale corporate affairs. The Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company of New Haven Connecticut makes a striking example of the latter. Founded by John E. “Doc” Healy and Charles “Texas Charlie” Bigelow the firm manufactured ‘Kickapoo Indian’ remedies in a factory. Kickapoo remedies were sold across the country by as many as twenty-five traveling shows. These shows featured jugglers, acrobats, fire eaters, dancers and more.
Next Week: What’s In This Stuff?
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Ride easy,
Paul
July 28, 2018
Patent Medicine
It is little wonder entrepreneurs found opportunity in the nineteenth century medicinal void and stepped in, giving birth to the patent medicine industry. It’s quite a story. We might begin by asking, what is patent medicine? It was not a medication for which a patent had been granted in the conventional sense of patents as we know them today. Patent medicines had their roots among the crowned heads of Europe. The original patent medicines were manufactured and marketed under ‘patent’ rights granted as a favor to those who provided royal medical services. By the nineteenth century these medicinal tonics and elixirs found their way to markets in the United States. Business men and women saw opportunity.
Patents and their recipes could be sold or licensed for manufacture; and thus our own patent medicine industry was born. In those days, before we had a Food & Drug Administration or a Federal Trade Commission to regulate such things, the ‘wonder cures’ could contain anything people could be persuaded to swallow as treatment for anything the purveyor might claim. Therein lies a recipe for all manner of marketing genius otherwise known as chicanery.
By the nineteenth century, thanks to the establishment and acceptance of public education, most folks could read. Newspapers were popular, giving birth to yet another new industry, advertising. Advertising patent medicine produced stunning claims. If you suffered from dyspepsia, indigestion, constipation, piles or any disorder of the liver, bowels or kidneys- no problem. All you needed was your daily dose of Dr. E. Rowell’s Invigorating Tonic and Family Medicine! As often as not one problem stemmed from the fact ‘Dr.’ E. Rowell wasn’t an MD. Next came the ‘Don’t-take-our-word-for-it’ testimonial. These featured some ordinary, ‘Just-like-you-and-me’ person who’d experienced some miraculous cure attributed to Rowell’s tonic. Why are we still looking for a cancer cure? Hadacol took care of that 130 years ago!
Advertising led to branding. Drug companies glommed onto the notion labels were worth money. People bought brand perception. Formulas and recipes not so much.
Next Week: Medicine Shows
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Ride easy,
Paul
Patents and their recipes could be sold or licensed for manufacture; and thus our own patent medicine industry was born. In those days, before we had a Food & Drug Administration or a Federal Trade Commission to regulate such things, the ‘wonder cures’ could contain anything people could be persuaded to swallow as treatment for anything the purveyor might claim. Therein lies a recipe for all manner of marketing genius otherwise known as chicanery.
By the nineteenth century, thanks to the establishment and acceptance of public education, most folks could read. Newspapers were popular, giving birth to yet another new industry, advertising. Advertising patent medicine produced stunning claims. If you suffered from dyspepsia, indigestion, constipation, piles or any disorder of the liver, bowels or kidneys- no problem. All you needed was your daily dose of Dr. E. Rowell’s Invigorating Tonic and Family Medicine! As often as not one problem stemmed from the fact ‘Dr.’ E. Rowell wasn’t an MD. Next came the ‘Don’t-take-our-word-for-it’ testimonial. These featured some ordinary, ‘Just-like-you-and-me’ person who’d experienced some miraculous cure attributed to Rowell’s tonic. Why are we still looking for a cancer cure? Hadacol took care of that 130 years ago!
Advertising led to branding. Drug companies glommed onto the notion labels were worth money. People bought brand perception. Formulas and recipes not so much.
Next Week: Medicine Shows
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Ride easy,
Paul
July 21, 2018
Good Sense
When it comes to life, attitude counts for a lot. In my business life I used to say, ‘Do it right, do it now, no surprises’. The longer versions of those phrases focus on satisfying the customer and the urgency that goes with success. The cowboy version of that might be, “Go after life like it’s something that’s got to be roped in a hurry, before it gets away.”
Another ingredient to success in life is perseverance. “Makin’ it in life is a little like bustin’ broncs. You’re gonna get thrown a lot. The secret is to keep gettin’ back on.”
“Some people follow wagon tracks while others break new trails.” Lead, follow or get out of the way. We’ve all heard, ‘but we’ve always done it this way’. Sometimes the right way means ‘if it ain’t broke, break it’. I kind of like this one, “Some people grin and bear it. Others smile and change it.”
If you go off breaking new trails or breaking old ways to achieve innovation take care ‘cause “Confidence is the feelin’ you have right before you understand the situation.”
This one comes straight out of more than a few versions of the cowboy code, mine included. “If you work for the man, ride for his brand.” And remember, “Life is short and full of blisters.”
Financial responsibility and security go hand in hand. Here’s some cowboy wisdom to fill out that category. “Never let your yearnin’s get ahead of your earnin’s.” And “The quickest way to double your money is fold it and put it back in your pocket.”
When you get your loop on life “Work like you don’t need the money and dance like no one’s watchin’.” Remember, take time to have fun.
Next Week: Patent Medicine
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Ride easy,
Paul
Another ingredient to success in life is perseverance. “Makin’ it in life is a little like bustin’ broncs. You’re gonna get thrown a lot. The secret is to keep gettin’ back on.”
“Some people follow wagon tracks while others break new trails.” Lead, follow or get out of the way. We’ve all heard, ‘but we’ve always done it this way’. Sometimes the right way means ‘if it ain’t broke, break it’. I kind of like this one, “Some people grin and bear it. Others smile and change it.”
If you go off breaking new trails or breaking old ways to achieve innovation take care ‘cause “Confidence is the feelin’ you have right before you understand the situation.”
This one comes straight out of more than a few versions of the cowboy code, mine included. “If you work for the man, ride for his brand.” And remember, “Life is short and full of blisters.”
Financial responsibility and security go hand in hand. Here’s some cowboy wisdom to fill out that category. “Never let your yearnin’s get ahead of your earnin’s.” And “The quickest way to double your money is fold it and put it back in your pocket.”
When you get your loop on life “Work like you don’t need the money and dance like no one’s watchin’.” Remember, take time to have fun.
Next Week: Patent Medicine
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
July 14, 2018
Nonsense
Mules are proud sturdy workers, misunderstood and underappreciated by horse lovers Mules come in for honest treatment in Cowboy Wit and Wisdom until you get to, “Don’t sell your mule to buy a plough.” And, “A wink is as good as a nod to a blind mule.” Really?
Herding cattle comes in for its share of wisdom. No surprise there; but the value of some of these three escape me. “It’s a big mistake to drive black cattle in the dark.” OK. Then there’s “No one but cattle know why they stampede and they ain’t talkin’.” Of course not. If you need wit and wisdom to unravel that you might understand “He’s all hat and no cattle.”
Which bring us to a few . . . well, I don’t know, you decide. “You can never tell which way the pickle’s gonna squirt.” Seems like a risky proposition. “Tumbleweeds are best left to themselves.” I get this one, just not sure why anybody needs it. “Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.” Caught without an umbrella.
“You can’t tell how far a bullfrog will jump by the size of its feet.” If you’re not in Calaveras County I have no idea why you would care.
Now this one seems like sound if unnecessary advice, “Never try to dry a wet pair of jeans in the oven.” If you do, you might actually tempt the fate of this fellow. “Careful is a naked man climbing over a barbed wire fence.”
I suppose this last one depends on your point of view. If you’re ‘sowin’ wild oats’ I can see the inconvenience where “Virtue is its own punishment.” On the other hand if you’re harvesting prunes and bran in preparation for the great round-up beyond, you kind of want to gather all the virtue you can. It gets easier of course by then, ‘cause mostly you can’t remember why virtue might have been considered punishment in the first place.
Next Week: Good Sense
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Ride easy,
Paul
Herding cattle comes in for its share of wisdom. No surprise there; but the value of some of these three escape me. “It’s a big mistake to drive black cattle in the dark.” OK. Then there’s “No one but cattle know why they stampede and they ain’t talkin’.” Of course not. If you need wit and wisdom to unravel that you might understand “He’s all hat and no cattle.”
Which bring us to a few . . . well, I don’t know, you decide. “You can never tell which way the pickle’s gonna squirt.” Seems like a risky proposition. “Tumbleweeds are best left to themselves.” I get this one, just not sure why anybody needs it. “Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.” Caught without an umbrella.
“You can’t tell how far a bullfrog will jump by the size of its feet.” If you’re not in Calaveras County I have no idea why you would care.
Now this one seems like sound if unnecessary advice, “Never try to dry a wet pair of jeans in the oven.” If you do, you might actually tempt the fate of this fellow. “Careful is a naked man climbing over a barbed wire fence.”
I suppose this last one depends on your point of view. If you’re ‘sowin’ wild oats’ I can see the inconvenience where “Virtue is its own punishment.” On the other hand if you’re harvesting prunes and bran in preparation for the great round-up beyond, you kind of want to gather all the virtue you can. It gets easier of course by then, ‘cause mostly you can’t remember why virtue might have been considered punishment in the first place.
Next Week: Good Sense
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Ride easy,
Paul
July 7, 2018
Lady Sense
The guess here is that when it comes to women, Cowboy Wit and Wisdom mostly comes from cowboys. How else do you explain why there is so little of it? The fact that men understand precious little about women is well understood. That has to be the reason for the paucity of insight offered here.
Let me also remind everyone, I’m the messenger here. We didn’t write this stuff. We merely report and comment. I certainly don’t wish to risk provoking a disagreement over any of this, ‘cause the way I hear it, “There are two theories to arguin’ with a woman. Neither works.”
There’s good reason to be cautious it would appear. I suspect the cowboy who came up with this one had a bad break-up or nasty divorce. “An angry bull is less dangerous than an angry woman.” This may account for the fact that most of us are nothing but respectful and polite in the presence of women.
Now this one seems like it comes from a cowgirl, so pay attention boys. There’s a hint here as to how to get along on the good side of your lady. “My jeans and my man – broke in just right.” The definition of ‘broke in’ would be helpful, though I don’t find much insight from a pair of well-worn jeans other than . . . well, worn. Understand small samples are risky and this is the smallest sample possible; my experience suggests the definition of ‘broke in’ comes right after, “Yes, dear”.
For all we don’t understand about women we keep coming around. It’s a natural attraction. I’ve been mystified by the same one for forty-eight years now. I’m doubtful I’ll ever have her fully figured out. But here’s an insight to explain some of it. “A smile from a good woman is worth more’n a dozen from a bartender.” Unless of course she’s a good bartender too.
So for all we don’t understand about women, when you find the right one, you can’t find a better partner. This cowboy philosopher summed it up when he (or she) said, “Behind every successful rancher is a wife who works in town.” You can spin that one around any spread.
Next Week: Nonsense
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Ride easy,
Paul
Let me also remind everyone, I’m the messenger here. We didn’t write this stuff. We merely report and comment. I certainly don’t wish to risk provoking a disagreement over any of this, ‘cause the way I hear it, “There are two theories to arguin’ with a woman. Neither works.”
There’s good reason to be cautious it would appear. I suspect the cowboy who came up with this one had a bad break-up or nasty divorce. “An angry bull is less dangerous than an angry woman.” This may account for the fact that most of us are nothing but respectful and polite in the presence of women.
Now this one seems like it comes from a cowgirl, so pay attention boys. There’s a hint here as to how to get along on the good side of your lady. “My jeans and my man – broke in just right.” The definition of ‘broke in’ would be helpful, though I don’t find much insight from a pair of well-worn jeans other than . . . well, worn. Understand small samples are risky and this is the smallest sample possible; my experience suggests the definition of ‘broke in’ comes right after, “Yes, dear”.
For all we don’t understand about women we keep coming around. It’s a natural attraction. I’ve been mystified by the same one for forty-eight years now. I’m doubtful I’ll ever have her fully figured out. But here’s an insight to explain some of it. “A smile from a good woman is worth more’n a dozen from a bartender.” Unless of course she’s a good bartender too.
So for all we don’t understand about women, when you find the right one, you can’t find a better partner. This cowboy philosopher summed it up when he (or she) said, “Behind every successful rancher is a wife who works in town.” You can spin that one around any spread.
Next Week: Nonsense
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Ride easy,
Paul
June 30, 2018
Talk Sense
Society has gotten kind of shrill these days. Our civil discourse seems not so civil. Mankind’s been prone to noisy disagreement down through the ages which likely accounts for the cowboy philosopher who opined, “Words that soak into your ears are whispered not yelled.”
There is of course a time and place for everything as this saying reminds. “Never speak loudly, unless your shanty is on fire.” Maybe that accounts for the coarse discourse some feel the need for today. For those of us who don’t feel the need to shout the other guy down, the best advice is “Talk low, talk slow and don’t say too much.”
Speaking of talking too much, most of our politicians and university professors could benefit by absorbing some of this cowboy wisdom. “Some men talk ‘cause they got somethin’ to say. Others talk ‘cause they got to say somethin’.” And this one, “The length of the conversation don’t tell nothin’ about the size of the intellect.” See what I mean about those who need word wisdom most probably won’t think so.
If we had more adherents to this one, Washington and most of the media would be out of business. “You don’t need decorated words to make your meanin’ clear. Say it plain and save some breath for breathin’.” Politicians and the media ‘out of business’? What a concept.
So let’s close with a little word wisdom we can all use. “You can’t unsay a cruel thing.” Those are the times when being kind by our silence may be the best answer. For the times when we let something intemperate get away from us, “The easiest way to eat crow is while it’s still warm. The colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller.”
Lastly one we can take to church with us come Sunday. It goes with saying, the best sermons end close to the beginning. When it comes to cowboy wisdom, “The best sermons are lived not preached.” As the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz rightly said, “Aint it dah truth? Ain’t it dah truth?”
Next Week: Lady Sense
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Ride easy,
Paul
There is of course a time and place for everything as this saying reminds. “Never speak loudly, unless your shanty is on fire.” Maybe that accounts for the coarse discourse some feel the need for today. For those of us who don’t feel the need to shout the other guy down, the best advice is “Talk low, talk slow and don’t say too much.”
Speaking of talking too much, most of our politicians and university professors could benefit by absorbing some of this cowboy wisdom. “Some men talk ‘cause they got somethin’ to say. Others talk ‘cause they got to say somethin’.” And this one, “The length of the conversation don’t tell nothin’ about the size of the intellect.” See what I mean about those who need word wisdom most probably won’t think so.
If we had more adherents to this one, Washington and most of the media would be out of business. “You don’t need decorated words to make your meanin’ clear. Say it plain and save some breath for breathin’.” Politicians and the media ‘out of business’? What a concept.
So let’s close with a little word wisdom we can all use. “You can’t unsay a cruel thing.” Those are the times when being kind by our silence may be the best answer. For the times when we let something intemperate get away from us, “The easiest way to eat crow is while it’s still warm. The colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller.”
Lastly one we can take to church with us come Sunday. It goes with saying, the best sermons end close to the beginning. When it comes to cowboy wisdom, “The best sermons are lived not preached.” As the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz rightly said, “Aint it dah truth? Ain’t it dah truth?”
Next Week: Lady Sense
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
June 23, 2018
Seasoned Sense
“I always thought it would take longer to get this old.” Then you wake up one morning and realize, “This is as good as you’ll ever feel.” Sayings like this one take on real meaning. “An old timer is a man who’s had a lot of interesting experiences – some of them true.” That sums me up pretty good. How about you?
And who can honestly deny this one? “The best way to get a cowboy to do something is to tell him he’s too old for it.”
Of course you have to be young before you get old. Remember the vigor of youth? Would we ever have imagined we’d “Sow wild oats,” and “Reap prunes and bran.” Puts me in mind of another of my favorites. Not exactly cowboy wisdom but; “Isn’t it ironic the footsteps a son is most apt to follow in are those his father thought he covered up?”
Before you know it those bad boy days are all in the rear-view mirror. “When a cowboy’s too old to set a bad example, he hands out good advice.” We do. Here’s why. “Good judgement comes from experience and a lot of that comes from bad judgement.” Which probably accounts for the fact, “The biggest trouble maker you’ll ever face watches you shave in the mirror every morning.”
Living leads to perspective. “Always be able to look back and say at least I didn’t lead no humdrum life.” There’s satisfaction to be taken from that.
I’ll close this post with a couple of sayings we might all like to leave behind. “The measure of a man is he does the right thing even when no one is watching.” If a fella or a gal can manage that you’ll catch this next one sure.
“Live a good and honorable life. Then when you get older and look back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.”
None of us know the answer to this next one. But as legacies go this is one to aspire to, “Success is measured by the size of the hole a man leaves when he dies.”
Next Week: Talk Sense
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Photo-art by Jim Hatzell
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fiddler...
Ride easy,
Paul
And who can honestly deny this one? “The best way to get a cowboy to do something is to tell him he’s too old for it.”
Of course you have to be young before you get old. Remember the vigor of youth? Would we ever have imagined we’d “Sow wild oats,” and “Reap prunes and bran.” Puts me in mind of another of my favorites. Not exactly cowboy wisdom but; “Isn’t it ironic the footsteps a son is most apt to follow in are those his father thought he covered up?”
Before you know it those bad boy days are all in the rear-view mirror. “When a cowboy’s too old to set a bad example, he hands out good advice.” We do. Here’s why. “Good judgement comes from experience and a lot of that comes from bad judgement.” Which probably accounts for the fact, “The biggest trouble maker you’ll ever face watches you shave in the mirror every morning.”
Living leads to perspective. “Always be able to look back and say at least I didn’t lead no humdrum life.” There’s satisfaction to be taken from that.
I’ll close this post with a couple of sayings we might all like to leave behind. “The measure of a man is he does the right thing even when no one is watching.” If a fella or a gal can manage that you’ll catch this next one sure.
“Live a good and honorable life. Then when you get older and look back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.”
None of us know the answer to this next one. But as legacies go this is one to aspire to, “Success is measured by the size of the hole a man leaves when he dies.”
Next Week: Talk Sense
Return to Facebook to comment
Photo-art by Jim Hatzell
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fiddler...
Ride easy,
Paul
June 16, 2018
Critter Sense
A person can learn a lot from skunks. “Only a fool argues with a skunk, a mule or a cook.” Of course we can learn something from the fool and the mule too. “Never approach a bull from the front, a mule from the rear or a fool from any direction.”
This observation can help navigate any number of life situations involving picking friends and associates. “If you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.” You can get a second bite of this carrion when you notice “Only a buzzard feeds on his friends.”
Keep this under your hat. Don’t tell a soul. Confidentially, “Letting a cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in.” Own a cat? You get the picture.
Herding animals also offer lessons we might heed. “If you follow behind the lead cow, you will step in the mess he leaves behind.” When it comes to your favorite cut of beef remember, “Don’t name a cow you plan to eat.” If you herd sheep, “It don’t take a genius to spot a goat in the flock.” And when personal safety is a concern, “Don’t wear wooly chaps in sheep country during breeding season.”
Hunters get up close and personal with wild critters. Take note, “Never drop your gun to hug a grizzly.” When tracking or stalking, “Don’t corner anything meaner than you.” And speaking of mean, “If you give a lesson in meanness to a critter or a person, don’t be surprised if they learn the lesson.”
Which brings us to man’s best friend. “If man were man’s best friend, maybe it wouldn’t be a dog eat dog world.” And “If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of influence, try ordering somebody else’s dog around.” If you let your self-esteem get too far ahead of you remember, “No tree is too big for a short dog to lift his leg on.” That’ll put a person in their place.
Next Week: Old Sense
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Ride easy,
Paul
This observation can help navigate any number of life situations involving picking friends and associates. “If you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.” You can get a second bite of this carrion when you notice “Only a buzzard feeds on his friends.”
Keep this under your hat. Don’t tell a soul. Confidentially, “Letting a cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in.” Own a cat? You get the picture.
Herding animals also offer lessons we might heed. “If you follow behind the lead cow, you will step in the mess he leaves behind.” When it comes to your favorite cut of beef remember, “Don’t name a cow you plan to eat.” If you herd sheep, “It don’t take a genius to spot a goat in the flock.” And when personal safety is a concern, “Don’t wear wooly chaps in sheep country during breeding season.”
Hunters get up close and personal with wild critters. Take note, “Never drop your gun to hug a grizzly.” When tracking or stalking, “Don’t corner anything meaner than you.” And speaking of mean, “If you give a lesson in meanness to a critter or a person, don’t be surprised if they learn the lesson.”
Which brings us to man’s best friend. “If man were man’s best friend, maybe it wouldn’t be a dog eat dog world.” And “If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of influence, try ordering somebody else’s dog around.” If you let your self-esteem get too far ahead of you remember, “No tree is too big for a short dog to lift his leg on.” That’ll put a person in their place.
Next Week: Old Sense
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
June 9, 2018
Makes Sense
One of the things that defines our fortunes in life is how we approach risk. Successful folks often have the ability to asses risk and accept some. “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
People who get intimidated by risk might do well to remember, “Most of the stuff folks worry about, never happens.”
If you take risk, sooner or later you’re likely to encounter trouble. When that happens it’s good to remember a couple of things. “You don’t learn much when everything goes right.” And “If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.”
Problem solving in any endeavor takes effort. That puts some folks off; but if you’ve taken a fork in the road remember, “Nobody ever drowned in his own sweat.” When all is said and done it’s “Better to be a has been than a never was.”
No matter the walk of life we find ourselves in, sooner or later we’re bound to come crosswise with someone. When that happens here’s a little wisdom we can all use. “It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.” Carrying a grudge diminishes a person and grows heavier with the passage of time. A better way to deal with the problem is, “Forgive your enemies. It messes with their heads.” That last part might even make it fun.
So much for life lessons that make sense. These last two make sense just for fun.
“Wearing gloves and button fly jeans means you best plan ahead.” Ya think?
I can almost hear this one roll off Will Rogers tongue. “Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.” In this case, I wish it were so; but I’m afraid it’s not.
Next Week: Critter Sense
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
People who get intimidated by risk might do well to remember, “Most of the stuff folks worry about, never happens.”
If you take risk, sooner or later you’re likely to encounter trouble. When that happens it’s good to remember a couple of things. “You don’t learn much when everything goes right.” And “If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.”
Problem solving in any endeavor takes effort. That puts some folks off; but if you’ve taken a fork in the road remember, “Nobody ever drowned in his own sweat.” When all is said and done it’s “Better to be a has been than a never was.”
No matter the walk of life we find ourselves in, sooner or later we’re bound to come crosswise with someone. When that happens here’s a little wisdom we can all use. “It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.” Carrying a grudge diminishes a person and grows heavier with the passage of time. A better way to deal with the problem is, “Forgive your enemies. It messes with their heads.” That last part might even make it fun.
So much for life lessons that make sense. These last two make sense just for fun.
“Wearing gloves and button fly jeans means you best plan ahead.” Ya think?
I can almost hear this one roll off Will Rogers tongue. “Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.” In this case, I wish it were so; but I’m afraid it’s not.
Next Week: Critter Sense
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
