Recently, the President of the United States, who’s name you may have forgotten, was seen walking around the roof of the White House. When asked by reporters, shouting from the ground, what he was up to, he said he was finding a way “to spend my money for the American people.”
Official word is that he was checking out the area where his new grand ballroom is about to be built. The structure is so big, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York suggested the President can house his new, free Saudi gifted plane there. But I digress.
One pundit, citing the President’s arching hand gestures, surmised he was looking to build a golden dome on the Peoples’ House. After all, he is the self-proclaimed CCO (Chief Construction Officer) of the United States. Who knows? We’ll have to wait and see.
Let’s get onto something more important, shall we pardner?
The rodeo has come to our neck of the woods. Best you brush up on your cowboy lingo ‘cuzz over yonder in Rochester, the New England Rodeo has hunkered down at the old Rochester Fair Grounds with performances every couple of weekends. Well, butter me and call me a biscuit. If you are lookin’ to have’ a rootin-tootin’ good time, put on your ten-gallon hat and mosey on over real soon, you all. I’m told thar’s buckin’ bronchos, bull ridin’ and rodeo clowns. Yippee-ki-yay!
I’m not surprised that the rodeo is more popular than ever in our area. Why else would a new western boot store be opening up at the Dartmouth Mall? Before heading to Rochester, you can stop by and pick up a new pair of snakeskin boots or a nice, fringed cowboy shirt, and one for your favorite cowgirl too.
Up in Boston, the Professional Bull Riders League will be stampeding into the Boston Garden in January. In preparation, 50 trucks will unload 750 tons of genuine dirt on the floor. A half ton of bull… that doesn’t sound right… one hundred bulls weighing a half ton each will challenge professional riders to stay on them for 8 seconds.
During the 1950’s, Mattapoisett had their own rodeos… sort of. Back then, the town was still a rural community. Beyond the village there were many farms with cows, chickens, bulls, goats, and horses. With so many horses, riding clubs were created followed by horse shows. Old-fashioned wood-slat snow fences would be set up around the perimeter of the Center School playground. Wearing their western finery, the local cowboys would strut around showing off their steeds, riding and jumping to the delight of the gathered audience. Occasionally they might even lasso a calf of two.
I would be remiss if I didn’t find a way to get Washington into this essay about rodeos. After all, it is the epicenter of clowns and bull. I’ve been thinking that the grand ballroom coming soon to the People’s House would be a great place for a rodeo. Don’t you agree?
It is 90,000 square feet, about the size of a football field. When they are finished in Boston the Professional Bull Riders League could send those 750 tons of dirt down to the White House and fill the new place up to it gold leafed windowsills.
The late President Lyndon Johnson, a real cowboy from Texas, would have been thrilled to attend a real rodeo there instead of the one down the street. I’m sure George W. Bush, also from Texas, would approve. The bulls and horses could graze on the South Lawn. And the current occupant could sell gold spurs at the concession stand.
Yes, siree buckaroos. It would be a rootin’ tootin’ good time.
And that’s no bull.
Mattapoisett resident Dick Morgado is an artist and happily retired writer. His newspaper columns appeared for many years in daily newspapers around Boston.
Thoughts on…
By Dick Morgado