A Cowboy in My Path

Ever since my friend Sharon gave me these dark chocolate salted caramels, I have been on a hunt to find more. She got them from an Amish store up in Lowville. There is an Amish store heading towards Richfield Springs. Today, I made it my mission to go and scout these out. I know that they are closed on Wednesdays, so I should be good to go today.

First, I stopped at the redemption center to cash in a large bag of empty bottles and cans. I got $11.50, one dollar of which goes to the worker there as he was sweating bullets. I had enough left in my pocket to cover a small container of these delectables.

I mailed a card to my niece on the way as she just had a new baby girl. Then, I made my way South on Route 20. It was near the Precisionmatics in West Winfield that I noticed this man crossing the road. He put his hand out to hitch hike. Impulsively, I stopped. Not sure what I was getting myself into, but this man in his early sixties proceded to get into the car. I had just cleaned the car too. I am very fussy about the car. It was almost 80 degrees out, so it was a given that there would be sweat. My passenger had been walking for quite a while. He was coming from Earlville. He told me that he got a ride in Bouckville, but the driver was only going as far as West Winfield.

"Hello," I greeted him.

"They call me 'Cowboy'." He responded. "I sing all over, at the Herkimer Fair, at different bars that have Karaoke, and you name it."

"Oh, that is nice. Is your main genre Country?" I asked.

"No, I do it all - jazz, rock, everything."

Then, Cowboy told me that he was trying to get to Ilion.

"I am going to Richfield Springs." I told him.

"That will work. I can get a hold of my old girlfriend and she can drive me to Ilion. I might have to give her five or ten bucks for gas, but it's all good."

"Well, actually, I am going toward Richfield, but I am getting off at a sideroad that goes to the Amish store. They sell apples there though it is a bit early for them now."

Cowboy commented on my Crucifix that I have in the car. "That is very nice. I go to church myself. I go to Faith Baptist Church in Sherburne when I am there, and when I am in Herkimer, I go to 'River of Life Outreach'. In fact, I am meeting a lady there this weekend. She is going to be my manager and get me to Nashville."

"Oh Wow! That is neat. Well, look at Oliver Anthony. He is from a small town in Virginia or maybe West Virginia. Dan Bongino played one of his songs on his podcast. Now he is touring all over the world."

Cowboy was intrigued by this though he was not familiar with him.

I asked if Cowboy has family. He told me that his son just graduated from Norwich Senior High. He has another son too.

Cowboy told me that his real name is Shannon, but he does not use it anymore since his father died in 2017. "My father was the only one whoever called me that. It's just too hard."

I told him that I was sorry, and then he told me that he lost his brother in June. His brother had COPD and he was only a year older than I.

"One day we are celebrating a graduation, and the next day, a 'Celebration of Life'."

"I usually take the bus but there is not a lot of buses out here. So, I walk a lot. I try to get work to help out. I will mow a lady's lawn in Ilion today. I do a beautiful job."

"Can you get any sort of benefits?" I inquired.

"Well, I am on SSI, and they don't want me to work. I am willing to work, but I injured my back so I am on disability. My girlfriend has bad hips so she can't drive. She is going to get both of her hips replaced. I don't have my license so I can't drive."

"Do you think that you could take me all the way to Richfield Springs? I can show you where I used to live. In fact, I was trying to call my friend but I can't get through to her. Her house is just behind that street with the church." I was certain that he meant St. Joseph the Worker.

Then he told me how he was going to go to Little Falls to find some odd jobs there. He will go to the First Baptist Church when he is there.

Cowboy has nice blue eyes and an earnest expression. He has scraggly long light brown curly hair pulled back in a pony tail. He has a little beard too. His backpack is well worn. It breaks my heart. Often times I have a backpack in the trunk. I wish that I had one today that I could have given to him - to Michael. Cowboy told me that he goes by 'Michael' now. That is his middle name.

Michael is very appreciative for the ride. I could tell that he has life hard. I offered him a bottle of spring water, but he declined saying something about not being able to drink out of plastic. He put his hand out to shake mine. I slipped the bottle redemption money into his.

"You don't have to give me that." Michael humbly said. "What's your name?"

"Virginia..."

"That's a pretty name." He shakes my hand again.

"You might need it for gas Cowboy."

"Well, thank you very much. And if you ever need your lawn cut, just give me a call. I would give you my card, but I just gave my last one out." Michael said as I took his number down. "I do really good work."

I was not going to get those dark chocolate salted caramels anyway, the Variety Bulk store happened to be closed. It seems there was an Amish wedding in their community.

"Saddle up Cowboy!"