HORSE RANCH

Three sisters pulled the Sears catalog in front of them and went through it page by page, picking and choosing what they wanted. Each sister had a pad where she would add up her score.

I remember as a young man I would put $1,000,000 at the top of the page and start subtracting each item as I made my list. I didn't add much foolishness, although a cabin layout extending into the lake and an ultralight copter were prominent.

Really, one item tops many a young woman's list: the horse ranch. Young women may not detail the symbology of the horse, but us wise ol' guys know it includes physical prowess, energy, sexuality, and some wild spirit.

What most young women are likely to get, at the beginning, is a cowboy. That's where the ride begins. And in a just world, if there is genuine love between the young woman and the cowboy, truly all the rest is secondary.