The List

I found something today that made me all gushy inside. Lexi B., an eleven year old horse and ranch fanatic, wrote a list of things she wanted to do at the big ranch during her stay. This girl's heart definitely belongs in the west even if she lives in Boston. After five straight summers of visiting and participating in branding, her love of the place only intensifies.

Here were Lexi's desires for a fantastic vacation:

• Climb towers


• ride first day


• play tag and hide and go seek


• have a race


• catch bunnies


• catch lizards


• rock hunting


• make nachos


• make popsicles


• feather hunting


• hunting for eggs


• catch chickens


• climb barn roof


• help separate cows


• help cook


• climb through window


• chase boys (horses)


• catch frogs and toads


• catch waterdogs


• climb the clubhouse


• sleep in clubhouse

To think, these are the things Lexi longed to do for a whole year. Cute baby!
I was smiling the whole time reading this. Lexi is something else. She adores our ranch manager, Candido, and I'm pretty sure he feels the same. He gets a real kick out of her spunky spirit and love of all things cowboy. I guess the big joke was that Lexi was in charge of the cattle drives this year instead of Candido. No one could ever accuse her of being pusillanimous. It was Lexi's birthday during branding week. I know the ranch is the exact place she would want to celebrate her big day. When asked what she wanted, Lexi joked with Candido that she wanted his new horse as her own. He didn't quite give her the horse, but he gave her naming rights. Lexi came up with a few names and left the list for his consideration. Candido didn't go for that. According to Holly, Lexi's mom, he told her that a list didn't do him any good--he needed her decision. She finally decided on Spirit, the horse from her favorite movie. Candido later joked with Steve, Lexi's dad, that he was going to have to go and break it to the gelding that his new name was Spirit. I think the truth is that Candido loves the name because it came from Lexi. Geez, this would be the perfect place to insert a picture of the two of them talking or even of Spirit. Ugh. Imagine please. Lexi wants to hurry and finish school so she can live on a ranch and become a ranch manager. Holly took this last picture--I just love it!

I think Candido better watch his back. There's a girl with a real passion who's coming after his job in a few years short years!