Dogies All-School Reunion to stampede Newcastle
Finally, the time has come. My hooves are on tiptoe!
My beautiful horns are polished, my ears strain to catch the first rumbling thunder of the approaching herd. Oh, my, what if no one shows up? Why, I even curled my eyelashes! They wouldn’t dare to snub us. Or would they?
“Shut your mouth, Margaret,” came Sally’s raucous moo. “The way you’re bellerin’ nobody in half a block could hear anything else!!!”
Oh, oh, oh, the ground is vibrating under my feet — and look at that cloud of dust. Oooooh Deeear! The stampede … do something, somebody!
That’s when they all heard the rattle of hundreds of bovine dewclaws above stampeding hooves. The clashing of multitudinous horns put sharp punctuations into the melee. Each struggled to pass the other, pushing and shoving. The rising dust cloud was suffocating — even Sally was gasping to catch a breath.
Her eyes popped open. She immediately wished herself back in the dream as she screeched at the twitching, snuffling husband beside her.
“Homer, wake up! And stop that infernal racket!”, she snapped at him before she was fully awake. One hand flew to her mouth, the other to his shoulder as she gently adjusted the blanket, thankful he’d only awakened enough to close his mouth and turn to his side so the snore subsided.
Then her mind’s eye saw her old hometown in Wyoming, and she felt like an eagle soaring above it, looking down on the meandering Stampede Trail that passes Newcastle High School today. That’s the name of her alma mater, although the location is different. The hallowed halls she made memories in stand no more, but they are indelible in her heart and mind, sweet and cherished. That’s why she’s all packed and following her strong homing instinct today.
The real thrill is knowing hundreds of other Newcastle, Wyoming, alumni from all over are following that same heart call right now — either arranging or beginning their trek to convene there.
Oh, the joy that awaits, as each dear voice and face is heard and seen this weekend! What huge group hugs will be shared. Imagine the hum of laughter and stories recalled and repeated. Of course, there’ll be raucous group singing of school songs, and the pop favorites cherished by individual grads of each era.
Don’t you dare miss it! I’ll see you there! Oh, yes, if I don’t recognize you — or you don’t recognize me right at first, let’s just smile brightly and hug each other, OK? We can’t let the young whippersnappers who’ll be surrounding us have the satisfaction of thinking we’re old and forgetful, can we?