a cowboy's daughter.
During a scorching summer’s drought or during a rainy season the fences needed repair, for the cattle would see their escape and run through the opened
fence without despair.
around the front porch as rattlers would hide,
our faithful cattle dog Judy would bark seeking
them out keeping us safe from their striking side.
Our horses Blue and Boy excitedly jumped
and whinnied as they saw the ole pickup arrive,
knowing we would give them alfalfa and oats,
my Father loved his mounts with a cowboy’s pride.
I shot a 30-30 rifle with precision taught from a man
who made his own bullets, collecting guns for many years,
I was taught to walk beside him wearing my cowboy hat
as long as my hair was tucked behind my girlish ears.
He shot year round to feed his family fresh meat and
stopped at the grape and melon fields giving us such joy,
He was a frontiersman born in a century of modern times
but his mindset was that of a rugged bronco busting cowboy.
Then I grew up having a family of my own with
no cattle ranch or guns to shoot nor horses for me to ride,
my life took another turn away from the ranch that I loved
and now have only a memory I carry with a cowgirl's pride.
My father Robert E. Galgiani was born in Stockton, CA 1911 and died in 1990 was an original western cowboy. He taught me the love of ranching and the love of animals. I rode, learned to herd cattle and stood by watching until the branding was done. I watched with excitement during spring roundups as the cattle were corralled and divided up to be given back to the original owners. What an experience, childhood memories that will last forever...rg