Chivalry is Not Dead

Chivalry is not dead.
It lives on in those who think
There is truly a cowboy way.
It resides in a land of ma'am and sir.
It is the removed hat.
It is opening the door for the ladies.
It is almost humorous in its expression sometimes
Because it is filled with myth
And with a feigned humility
That cover a pride that holds
Little toleration for those
Who would be pretenders.
It is a club with initiation rites
As intricate as the most arcane
Fraternity rituals.
It is a seeming backwardness
Steeped in knowledge gained
Through a lifetime of learning
By watching the old hands
And from the hard knocks of
"Been there, done that."
It echoes the sounds of the deepest Ozarks,
The Texas Plains,
And the feedlots of Kansas.
It is at home in the fastness
Of a high mountain valley
Or on a western Indian Reservation.
It is heard in Elko, Billings, Brush,
Dodge, Kearney, Muleshoe,
Snowflake, Socorro, Gonzales,
And a thousand other towns and cities
Interrupting the landscape from the Mississippi
To the Pacific and from
The Valley to the Canadian North.
It lives on in all of its confused
And colorful expression, in the hearts
More than the mannerisms, of the
Modern mounted warriors
Who cling to the mistaken idea
That toughness is shown only
In physical endurance,
Hard drinking, and extreme living.
The contradictions abound.

Canyon, Texas

The town of Canyon, Texas, is a unique oasis in the Panhandle. It is the home of West Texas A&M (WTAMU), and Palo Duro Canyon State Park. It is also the home to many people who make their living either directly, or indirectly, from cattle. I have often heard Canyon referred to as the Animal Health Capital of the world. The reason is because of the many consulting veterinarians, nutritionists, animal health sales reps, pharmaceutical company sales reps, feed salesmen, technical veterinarians, researchers, feedlot managers, cowboys, and ranchers that call the community home.

Why do they all live in Canyon? WTAMU is one reason. It is an excellent university with an outstanding staff -- many of them in the Agricultural Sciences Department. It also hosts one of the best historical museums in the country -- the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum. Another reason is the excellent school system. Canyon schools consistently rank among the top in the state for their size in academic, music, and athletic programs. The new High School is a beautiful addition to the southern part of town. Proximity to Amarillo without the problems sometimes associated with living in a city is another reason. Rick Husband International Airport is only about 30 minutes away, Westgate Mall is about 15 minutes, and some of the best medical care in the country is available within 20 minutes. Hereford, Texas, is about 30 minutes in a different direction. It is the center of one of the highest concentrations of beef cattle in the world. It is the destination of many of the aforementioned Canyon residents when it's time to go to work.

I chose to live in Canyon for a combination of the above. But, most importantly, I chose it for the people and the strong sense of community. The people in Canyon seem to care for each other. They are not afraid of hard work. They instill positive moral values in their children. I wanted that for my children. I also wanted them in church. The churches in Canyon are strong and growing. There are many great programs for the youth in the community. Canyon is a town in which achievement is encouraged and positive behavior is expected. It is a great place to raise a family.