A time with a friend...

I met Cliff in July 1975 (38 years ago) after a rodeo at the Divine Gardens in Turlock, CA.  The rest is history!!

 

When you join together with your husband, family and friends come along filling up your life.  One of Cliff's great friends is Frank Souza.  Frank and Cliff were inseparable and boy did they love the rodeo circuit (riding bulls) and participated in many rodeos in the state of California in their younger years.  I grew to love Frank and back then he was dating Donnelle and we became great friends as well.  It was a crazy, exciting new life for me.

 

Yesterday Cliff and I traveled up to Mariposa to visit with Frank and his wife, Robbie.  They live in the country foothills and it is just so gorgeous this time of year.  We had never been to their place and had no idea what to expect.  Those are Frank's daughter's heifers walking across one of their pastures.  It's just too beautiful for words and photos!!  It was not only beautiful, but VERY peaceful as well. 

Cliff and I have lost time with Frank over the years and just recently became reunited.  Franks laugh is just the same and the stories about rodeo cowboying are as if it were yesterday.  Frank could even tell you the name of the bulls he and Cliff rode back then and the near misses of death.  It was as if they were invulnerable to the dangers of bull riding and somehow always came out seriously injury free.  Oh don't worry, they got their share of bumps, bruises and cuts, but no broken bones.  Below is a picture of Cowboy Frank and Cliff in the early 1970s.

 

 

Our visit to Frank's was not ours alone.  You see, Frank has terminal pancreatic cancer.  The visit was part of a gathering for Frank to see his friends, maybe for the last time, before he leaves this earth.  There were times when Frank would be sitting alone and I wondered what he was thinking...feeling.  There were times when I would study the lines in his face and view his shrinking body and it hurt my heart for him...for his wife and his daughter.  The hugs and kisses meant so much more and the thankfulness of good health became greater than any other time.

 

 

And the picture taking went on for a while.  Usually I am not in any of the photos, but I asked Donnelle to take this one.  She made me laugh because she was having a bit of a time with my camera.  It's intimidating to those that just use cell phones or maybe no camera at all!

 

 

Cliff...Frank...Donnelle...  I love this photo the most of Frank with his goofy smile!

 

 

 

Frank...Robbie...there are times I'm sure, that it's just so hard and others times, so sweet with precious life.

 

 

And, when I get really sad thinking about losing a friend, I just remember Frank's smile, laugh, cowboy stories and this lady and her hat!!!  I know it's not nice to laugh "at" people, but I also do believe there are exceptions to the rules.  LOL!

 

 
I am thankful...oh how I am so thankful for friends, laughter and life!  AND may I learn to be better at all three!!!