Back at the Ranch

Here is a illustration for a Larry McMurty book titled Rhino Ranch. See the book review that ran in my paper here. I'm not a huge fan of westerns so I haven't read "The Last Picture Show," etc., but I do like cowboy hats and boots. When I was about 13, one of my sisters and I started selling Pop-sickles or "duros," as we called them in Panama, from our home. It was a great way to get to know all the kids in the neighborhood. We even had contests for the 100th pop-sickle sold. The winner would get a free one. When it got close, there would be a line at our door. I remember our first week of "profits" gave us $24 each. What did I do with my money? I bought a pair of cowboy boots. I hardly ever wore them, but they looked so cool in my closet.