My Life Shattered

The Making of Me

I was born in 1965 to the parents of a ranch hand and a waitress; they are good honest hard working people. Before I could walk my Dad had me on a horse with him herding cattle. I look back at our family pictures and realize because I am a girl I was given special treatment. At that time money was scarce and if you had a boy in the family to work ranches would hire you, with the understanding it was a two for one bargain. I was the eldest of three children. My brother is nine years younger than I am so I worked in his place.

Growing up I got up before the boys and helped the women to prepare breakfast, gather the eggs and feed the cows, horses and chickens. I was grateful I did not have to milk the cows that was done usually did that after breakfast. After breakfast I headed out with the boys to put in a full days work along with the daughter of another ranch hand, her name is Susie. Susie and I stuck together while the boys chided and made fun of us. They insisted that they were stronger and better at everything. At the end of the day we were still expected to feed, help with supper and take turns at dishes. The boys would go to their houses where their mothers and sisters would have the chores done and supper ready for them.

Susie's father Johnny and mine worked hard to save up and purchase ten acres of land in what is now Scottsdale. We left the ranch to pursue a dream of owning a string of bucking

stock; they started out with ten bulls and fifteen horses. We were really broke then; every penny went in to building an arena with scrap pipe and feeding the livestock. On days we were not in school Susie, I and our two sisters would take the bulls and horses on alternating days out to graze in the desert. Johnny and Dad would go to the sale and buy two year olds for us to ride and break. When they could go forward, backward and turn they would sell them for three