Lockhart: Sometimes it seems all we do is bury people

That was the words in the Lonesome Dove movie. This past weekend we lost a good young man in southeast Oklahoma. His name was JT. He was outside feeding cows on the side by side. He drove around to the front of the barn and somehow he ended up pinned underneath it on the ice and snow.

His family was inside the house and after a bit got to wondering what was taking him so long. That’s when they went outside and found him. He was sixteen years old.

JT competed at the same junior rodeos I take my son too. I was just getting to know to who he was. Here lately I would listen for his name and watch him rope in the team roping. I bought a set of tie down calves from their neighbors, JT’s dad put me in touch with them.

JT liked to joke and kid with everyone. He was just one of those kids everyone liked. At the last junior rodeo I watched him tickle another kid with the tail of his nylon rope, grinning ear to ear while he did it.

I spent the day checking cows and I thought a lot about JT. Sometimes there just isn’t any sense to be made when we lose such a fine young man.

I wondered why God takes this one and leaves that one. I made sure to do a few more things with my son this past weekend. If I learned anything from JT’s death, it’s don’t waste a moment.

This weekend they are having a benefit team roping for JT. Another thing that was said in Lonesome Dove was there ain’t nothin better than riding a fine horse through new country.

I’ll ride a fine horse this weekend and maybe tickle someone with the tail end of my rope.

EDITOR’S NOTE: James Lockhart lives near the Kiamichi mountains in southeast Oklahoma. He writes cowboy stories and fools with cows and horses.