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Paisley Kirkpatrick

Marlene Urso


Last Updated: 11/21/2009

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Gender: Female
Status: Married
Age: 100
Sign: Gemini

City: Camino
State: California
Country: US
Signup Date: 3/18/2007

Who Gives Kudos:

Kris (1)
Friday, July 03, 2009 

Paisley KirkpatrickThe other day I was having such a great time posting on a blog that had a horse theme.  We were sharing our experiences with horseback riding.  Funny how remembrances can bring up frustrations long ago buried.  I was seventeen and working at a summer resort up in the high mountains of California.  One day the wrangler asked me to tie fifteen of the horses to the hitch so he’d be ready when the riders arrived.  Well, you know I tried my best, but my best wasn’t quite good enough.  They had to round up all fifteen horses because my knots didn’t hold.  I was on the top of the Wrangler’s hate list the remainder of the summer.    He never spoke to me again and always did the sign of the cross before he turned away.

I admit it, I am knot challenged.  Even years later I find my stomach tying into knots over knots.  Just mention “bowline knot” to my husband and his blood pressure shoots through the top of his head and blood shoots out of his eyes.  Picture a volcano going off.  Yes, I absolutely pushed him and my dad to their limits while trying to learn how to tie that infamous bowline. 

They thought telling me to form a loop a short distance from the end – allow for the size of the loop and the knot itself.  Pass the end of the rope through the loop as though making a simple knot (a half hitch).  Pull the end through, then round the standing end, and then back through the loop to finish the bowline should have been sufficient.  I tried, honestly I did.  I was a Camp Fire leader at the time and it was part of the criteria that the girls learn to tie that evasive knot.  I think rabbits and holes were involved in one set of directions. 

Okay, now we have the Internet.    I actually found a site that shows how to tie the knot.  Much better than an over-stimulated husband and frustrated father.   It actually shows you how to tie a bowline knot in slow motion, step by step, ten different pictures.  I DID IT.  I ACTUALLY TIED THAT KNOT!!
  bowliner10.jpg
You know what this shows me.  I can do anything if I try hard enough, have the  Internet and a lot of friends who have patience and will laugh along with me when I am learning something new. 

Now that I have told you my story, I am walking upstairs with rope in hand and will proudly show my bowline to my husband.    What do you think his reaction’s going to be? 
2:37 AM
 
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Kris
Kris Martin

 
I'm sure Ken will be very proud!    
 
Posted by Kris on Saturday, July 04, 2009 - 3:53 AM
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