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167 Tamale Ridge by: Chuck Cusimano

We rode into the flat where all the mares and foals were and what a beautiful sight. It made me

proud to see the mares and colts in such good shape. I noticed Rosemarie’s expression and could

tell she was as excited as a young child.

Rosemarie recognized a lot of her mares and their new babies. The always-curious foals were

peeking around their mothers, switching their tails and wanting to get a closer look at us but they

stayed by mama’s side just in case we posed a threat. We dismounted and one by one, took the

halter off each mare. They started mixing with the other mares and colts. There would be a lot

of squealing going on until they became acquainted but they were home. I held Rosemarie and

watched as a herd of mule deer crossed the meadow. We mounted again and rode the short

distance into the ranch yard. Juan was sitting on the front porch with his leg bandaged. Big Jim

was just walking to the cabin from the barn. Gilberto, Claudia and the new bundle were coming

from their home. Olivia ran to get a look inside the bundle and Rosemarie looked into my eyes

and said, “I can live here….forever.”

That was Twenty Years ago.

A lot of things have changed in the world. Our oldest son, Frank, was named for his

maternal Grandfather, Francisco Guerra. He is in the Marines and they are fighting another

threat in another foreign land. We pray for the future of America and our son. There are not a

lot of changes to Tamale Ridge. There are a lot of good folks living here. The grave of Juan and

the grave of Tamale lie in plain sight of one another. They are marked with love and respect and

are visited almost every day. Little else has changed.

I look out over the meadow, at the mares and foals and watch our children as they continue to

make improvements to this piece of land. Rosemarie likes to stay busy doing something. She is

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