7 Important Lessons from the National Western Stock Show
Who says owls are wise? I take my cues from the Valais Blacknose Sheep. WRITTEN & ILLUSTRATED by PETER MOORE, SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN
THIS JANUARY HASN’T BEEN MUCH FUN, what with the end of the world as we know it. But the animals at the National Western Stock Show, in Denver, are oblivious to the forces of history. When you’ll be appearing on a plate soon, perhaps it limits your view of the far horizon? I visited with the noble beasts a couple of days ago, to download some barnyard wisdom. They’re savants standing in their own shit, and philosophers who taste good with a dollop of mustard. Which made them good sources for my latest column-toon in The Colorado Sun. Here’s what I learned while inhaling their earthy wisdom.
MOST THERAPISTS TELL YOU ABOUT effective personal habits, rather than demonstrating them to you. But as I wandered the stalls and arenas at the National Western Stock Show, I learned lots of important stuff, and not just from my personal spirit animals: sheep.
If you look, listen, and even sniff closely enough, there are all sorts of life principles being mooed, whinnied, clucked, yelped and otherwise baaaaa-andied about.
For instance…
NWSS Life Lesson No. 1: Don’t become overly attached to your pets
One way or another, they’re going to leave you. Possibly on a platter.
NWSS Life Lesson No. 2: There are jobs much worse than yours.
Though this one may look familiar, metaphorically speaking.
NWSS Life Lesson No. 3: Tackle small problems before they become pig big.
Piglet: cute. Pig: dinner.
NWSS Life Lesson No. 4: Sometimes your boss actually does know what s/he is talking about.
Sub-lesson: Their bark isn’t as bad as their bite.
NWSS Life Lesson No. 5: Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.
Cowboys/girls: Remember to tip your rodeo clown.
NWSS Life Lesson No. 6: Be grateful to the people who make your dinner.
All 50 states plus 30 foreign countries were at the show, and the food court smelled good because of them. Thank the nice people who fill your belly, please.
NWSS Life Lesson No. 7: Yes, you need a haircut.
But, no, yours isn’t going to look this good.
“A man that don’t love a horse, there is something the matter with him.” —Will Rogers
Looking to find more great newsletters, where you (probably) found this one? Click this link! You get cool things to read, I get cold hard cash from the guy who runs the Refind.com. Everybody wins!
Have I mentioned this whole “buy me a coffee” thing? Support your sleepy cartoonist!
Many thanks for joining me here, in between cups. If you sign on for a founding membership, I’ll send you a $10 gift card from Dunkin’ Donuts! Or the coffee joint of your dreams!
Great to be with all 10,000 of you here on the Road2Elsewhere. It means the world to me.
That thar horse is lookin mighty purdy! 😍
Utah's got Mormons, I see. And NJ has the Boss. Sounds about right.