Memorial Day. A day to remember and honor all who have served. My dad, Richard Boss was one of these brave men. He fought the air war against Nazi Germany in WWII, flying 54 missions with the Eighth Air Force. Our service men and women demonstrate true commitment and dedication. This is one of the greatest lessons I learned from my dad. He made a commitment to serve his country, made a commitment to his career and made a commitment to his family. It can be easy to make a commitment. We promise or make an agreement to do something in the future. We may make a commitment to others, or to ourselves, such as getting our health back on...
“A mans got to have a code, a creed to live by, no matter his job.” John Wayne Back in the days of the western frontier there were no laws on the range. The cowboys developed rules of behavior that became known as the Code of the West. These unwritten rules were based on fair play, respect, loyalty and pride. The Code of the West is still with us today and cowboys still honor and live by the code. As I was growing up, I became aware of this concept of the Code of the West. I remember telling myself in certain situations, ‘This person lives by the Code of the West. This person is honest, hard working and...
It is time again to load the barn with hay to get us through the winter. We are so fortunate to have a grass pasture where the horses can graze for 6 months out of the year. The other six months, I am feeding hay. Every fall brings back wonderful memories. There was one late summer in particular, that I will always remember. My dad came home one evening and informed us that he bought hay. We asked when it would be delivered, so we could have the barn ready. He said it will not be delivered, it is laying in the farmers field and my brother, my sister and I would be picking it up. OK! We made a...
Once upon a time a little girl knew she must have a horse to call her own. Every day she pleaded with her parents, until one day her dream came true. Little did she know that this would open the door to the world of the American West, with experiences and lessons that would ultimately define who she is today. Growing up with horses and being influenced by cowboys instilled a set of values and ethics that I continue to rely on when facing a challenge. Understanding the Code of the West and witnessing the results of courage, hard work, determination and the pride of accomplishment have assisted me in raising our 2 boys as well as working in a...