It's that time of year again. Longhorn cattle being driven through the streets of downtown Denver. True it's only a couple of dozen steers and most of them appear fairly young and they don't get driven very far, but still the juxtaposition of steers, cowboys on horseback and skyscrapers feels a bit dislocating both in time and space. Having lived in Denver for the last eighteen years with my husband, Laurence, and as a kid for five years (is that right, Mom?) I had never seen the annual cattle drive. Laurence decided, since the weather was warm, that this was the year we should see it. Since it happened on a Thursday this year I dragged along my friend, Audrey. (We always lunch on Thursdays, you see, and she had never seen it either, although she has lived in Colorado her whole life.)
So I picked up Audrey and we met Laurence downtown. A surprising number of people lined either side of the street. It was noon, so I suppose a lot were on their lunch break. We waited a while and then the cattle came ambling up the street from Union Station. I tried to take a lot of pictures, but only the one I posted really came out well enough. (I have never loved taking pictures and have happily ceded (Laurence would say dumped) that responsibility to Laurence. I am realizing that for a blog I need pictures, so I will have to work on those skills.)
Anyway, the steers walked along surrounded on all sides by cowboys (and cowgirls) like they were some kind of criminal gang. They didn't seem to mind, just out for a stroll enjoying the sun. Following the livestock came Penny Chenery, owner of Secretariat, in a carriage. I'm not sure what came after that because the three of us were starving and took off to get some lunch.
For those of you who have never lived in Colorado the cattle drive does not exist on its own. It is the first event in the National Western Stockshow which began on Saturday, Jan 8th. The stockshow is the largest one in the U.S. Think of it like a western fair without the rides (unless you count mutton-busting where small children in helmets are placed on the backs of sheep and everyone waits to see how long it takes for them to fall off.) It all takes place inside a complex of buildings called the National Western Complex. There is livestock of all kinds, a petting zoo, commercial booths and lots of food.
There are other quirks of the stock show (a steer displayed in the lobby of the historic Brown Palace Hotel) which I will write about next year.
