You brought tears to my eyes, NyBoy.
The business was just a little local affair and Dad worked on their corals and such. The trail rides were especially fun for him. He had one horse "all geared up" for his retirement (by inflicting it's care on me for much of its life

). Then, he bought another. I kinda thought a llama was next ...
Dad can still be transplanted back in an earlier time. When I saw him last weekend, I asked him if he remembered where he lived in his early childhood. "Do you still remember, Tuskahoma?" "Oh, yeah."
I'd asked him that just to get him started down that road. "Katimma ish ia?" He started just a little and answered promptly, "I'm staying here just a few days and then going home." Home may just be a nursing home but he was so quick to answer

!
I'd asked him in Choctaw, "Where are you going?" Dad's family isn't supposed to be Choctaw. Tuskahoma is the capital of the Choctaw Nation and the neighbors were Choctaw.
Dad never was much given to talking about the past. I wonder what those longevity researchers could have said about that ... living in the past. He just wasn't/isn't that kind of person. Something that they do say and that many of us have probably noticed is that the very old tend to be happy people - as long as they are not encumbered by illness and pain. Then, those researchers hasten to point out that, contrary to much of what we read, it doesn't necessarily mean that they were happy people throughout their lives. No. Perhaps, they realize that they are still around at near the century mark and they are pleased with that, I.don't.know.
It is not that depression and emotional trauma adds to health. That would be wrong, it doesn't. After following these people through over 90 years, they found that people who were conscientious about themselves and others had a much better chance at long life. They "cared and were careful" and that means they cared about themselves, as well as other people. Some of us know that it's important for other reasons than enjoying good health. Some of us .... I'm a little reluctant to include them in the "us," despite whatever crap a few of
them might be peddling at any moment .., some of us could care less ... and, for good or bad ... they tend to go quickly.
Steve