Second Hand Loss

 
     Today I experienced another what I've learned to call, a second hand loss.  It's something you no longer have because your loved one is gone. Second hand loss is directly or indirectly a result of them being gone. Although this loss has been there for a while, it hit me today.  It seems silly, but sometimes you don't realize what you have till it's gone.  I found the loss while looking in the grocery store for hamburger.  Ok, now quit laughing and pick yourself up off the floor.  Yes, Hamburger.

   I remember when Tyson first moved out and was at college, and he called home to tell me, "Mom, I just wanted to tell you that hamburger from Walmart sucks."  Today, I realized I couldn't agree more. (Although I was at Dan's Super Value, cause I couldn't stomach the thought of Walmart hamburger.)

   Our whole married life, Todd was either working full time, or part time on ranches, and then we started having our own cattle.  Having beef on our table was just part of the job, weather it came in 'wages' or one of our own that we were grilling up.  And I have to say, we raised some of the best beef. I remember cutting a steak with a plastic fork, that's how tender it was.  

   But today, I was digging through a grocery store cooler, wondering how in the heck does one buy good beef.  I've never had to deal with % of lean before, or worry about price per pound.  We raised it, and paid the butcher to cut it up.  Now that's gone from my life too and has been for some time, but now the emptying freezer has caught up with me.  

   On a side note, since I was raised on a farm, we always had our own beef (or venison) as a kid growing up too. 

   Another change, another loss, another stark fact that my cowboy is not here with me.

   So to my wonderful rancher friends out there, if any of you have a quarter of beef to sell, let me know, cause I'm VERY interested, cause hamburger from Walmart sucks.