thinking back about the bull -- TEACHERS' LOUNGE

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Date Posted: 22:58:32 09/04/04 Sat
Author: dpego
Subject: thinking back about the bull

I need to tell you about one risk I did not take -- one that I sincerely regret.

It was the day they could have opened the gate, but I waved them off.

I had been asked by the features editor in Austin to go write about a place near the old airport where you could for a small fee ride real snorting bulls and practice to be a rodeo rider.

I enjoyed the assignment immensely. I was in my late 30s and in the best condition of mly life. I was playing soccer regularly and frequently ran five or more miles a day.

I watched as young cowboy wanna-be's took their turns, sitting on a mean ton of lean muscle, clenching their thighs tightly as they could while they held on with their one rope-wrapped hand deep in the well. it's a dance. you dance well enough with the bull, feeling its movement ,right or left, back and forth, and it could take you to the national finals if you make enough eight-second horns.

My photographer asked if I could get on a bull for a picture. I was scared but settled down on a huge, black-haired bull that was snorting loudly.

The gate was secure, but I grew very nervous as they wrapped my right hand with a riding rope.

"You ready?" said a cowboy tending the gate.

"NO!" I screamed "I'm just here for a picture."

I was wearing a pair of battered Levi's. Underneath my thigh, I could feel the heat of the massive beast, ready to spring forth like a trained athlete when the gate swung open.

"Click"

It was the camera -- not a gate swinging open.

I mention this only because while I think it's cool to have a photo of me on a big, bad bull, it would have done so much more for me and my life if I had said, "Let's go!"

Yes, I would have had a photo of my face in the dirt in about three seconds. And I might have had a small hospital bill to pay. But who cares.

Dang it. Life life to the fullest. I've done that much of the time, but now I regret the missed opportunities. I miss the chances I had to ride high -- if only for a few seconds.

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