Grandma Onnie and the cow's tail...



"Back in the day" (whenever that was) our area of NW Marion County

was what was referred to as "free range" or "open range".  That meant 

livestock ran free, not having to be fenced in.  Cattle were identified 

by brands on their rumps and/or "markings" on their ears.  Our mark was 

a crop, two slits and and under bit in one ear and a slit and an under 

bit in the other.  Our brand was "JC".  I still have the old branding 

iron.



Also, "back in the day", car air conditioning consisted of riding

with all the windows down and the little vent windows in the front

doors turned around backwards to channel all the air they could

into the car.  Many people...like Grandma Onnie...road with their

elbows extended out the front car window.  Grandma Onnie, being the

matriarch of the family, always road in the right passenger seat,

with elbow extended out the window.



She tells the story of passing through a group of cows on the road.

She reached out and patted one on the rump. At this point, the cow

switched its tail, wrapping it around Grandma's arm. Had they

not been going so slow, she could well have lost an arm or suffered

severe damage.



Ah, the good ol' days!