Mom's hometown and a horse

It was 1973.  Mom's hometown had two gas stations, two cafes, two bars and a tiny church as I recall.  The University held a Reindeer research station in this remote Alaskan native village.  Seems there were two popular hobbies around there.  For the drinkers it was hanging out at the bar boozing it up.  The others engaged in gossip and plenty of it.  Everybody knew everybody and some knew everything everybody did too.   Looking back I realize the strong "them and us" division.  Possibly, this is quite common in small towns. 

I think that day my mom was one of "them" because she was sitting in the bar while I roamed around exploring the outdoors.  I had one thing on my mind after seeing the Buckskin mare moving freely without fences.  I trailed the horse with 3 ft of baling rope in my hand.  I was on a mission.  Mr. Cotter exited from the bar door in perfect time to see an 8 year old girl aboard his horse galloping on by him.  I rode and I kept riding.  I was Calamity Jane.  I was free as the wind.  Somewhere behind me I heard, "Sherrrry, get off that horse!".  My horse and I blazed trail through the tundra and brush. 

Later that day I was the talk of the town.  I was a star.  I remember hearing, "nobody's been able to ride that horse".  Mr. Cotter believed I deserved to have her and I was given a horse that day.  The fulfillment of my dreams came to be on a summer day in mom's little hometown.

----I wrote this some time ago when writing about our family's life in Alaska----