Opinion

That thick old hide shifted beneath me as I got my handhold in the bull rope. I watched his horns.

A wildfire in the Texas Panhandle has consumed more than 1 million acres and as of Sunday was just 15% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. It is the largest wildfire in Texas history.

My husband, Peter, and I were surprised that two plates were missing. We stay in our little apartment in Mexico and, while we’re gone, all our dishes and glasses remain in the cupboards.

This Saturday morning, an old man here in New Mexico will act just a bit silly again as he has these past 50-odd years on the first Saturday in March. I admit to being the silly old man in this case.

While firefighting entails countless health risks, from smoke inhalation to injuries from collapsing buildings, a more obscure threat to this occupational group is toxic exposure. Burning structures release hundreds of harmful chemicals that firefighters inevitably breathe in, such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos, and hydrogen cyanide.

Ran into Herb Collins the other day down by the school. He volunteers there, from time to time, helping kids with their math homework, and trying to recruit future members of The Great World of Business.

Last night was surprisingly calm, all things considered. I told my husband, Peter, that he should not plan to get a good night’s sleep.