Some Good Advice For Us All

I grew up in New Mexico with cowboys, pickups, and cattle. My dad and his whole side pretty much resemble Hank Hill (only with a Hispanic sensibility). One of the things I always did like about growing up in the west though were the old men you'd run into at a barber shop or at the local bars. They'd always have some quick piece of advice for whatever situation you were in. A writer named Texas Bix Binder put together some of these pieces of advice into a great little book called "Don't Squat With Yer Spurs On: A Cowboy's Guide To Life". Some of the advice I'd gotten from those old timers is in the book, along with some others:

• After eating an entire bull, a moutain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.
• When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'. (This is something my dad always said as well)
• Never ask a barber if he thinks you need a haircut.
• If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
• Don't worry about biting off more than you can chew. Your mouth is probably a whole lot bigger than you think.
• Good judgment comes from experience, and alot of that comes from bad judgment.
• If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.
• There's two approaches to arguing with a woman. Neither one works. (NML - This one is for you; I may not understand women still, but I know this much ... lol ... I hope you get to feelin' better soon!!!)
• When you're throwin' your weight around, be ready to have it thrown around by somebody else.
• When you give a lesson in meanness to a critter or a person, don't be suprised if they learn the lesson.
• The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.
  

And finally, probably the best piece of advice I think I've ever heard or been given:

• Never miss a good chance to shut up.

Another Reason Why I Miss New Mexico