"You know, there's never a dull moment out on the Texas prairie. I reckon ever since I faced down that raging bull as a boy, I've come to expect the unexpected on this vast landscape I call home. Got my back put outta alignment then, and the good ol' doc says it might've been the beginning of this persistent bursitis I've been fightin' off. But as I always say, pain is just weakness leaving the body.
For a few of y'all not well-versed in medicalese, bursitis is one persistent son of a gun that's decided to set up camp in my back. It's an inflammation of the bursae, them small, cushiony pods filled with fluid that help your joints move smooth. They say it’s a common man's ailment, but by golly, it can sure make you feel like you've been wrestlin' with a prickly porcupine.
Sometimes, I wake up in the morning and my back feels as stiff as a frozen lasso. But I see my crazed brood of nine jumpin' around, causing mayhem of their own, it pulls a smile to my face. In all my battles, fighting bursitis is just one more. Just like the time old Bessie got tangled up in barb wire, or when I spent hours tracking down our runaway calves.
But it ain't all grim. You see, this bursitis has also been a lesson in disguise. As a rancher, I've had my fair share of physical run-ins, but this one taught me patience and endurance in a whole new light. You can't just fend off bursitis like a coyote making a run for your chickens. It's a slow dance, and sometimes you've got to let it lead.
I've found solace in the strangest of activities. While the knot tieing keeps my hands busy and joggling gets the blood pumping, it's the communication with my bovine buddies that do wonders for my soul. You oughta see the look on folks' faces when I tell 'em I speak cow. Raises more eyebrows than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers! But the cows, bless 'em, they just understand.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm as stubborn as a mule when it comes to giving bursitis the boot, but I've also learnt to dance with it. Rolling with the punches is part and parcel of the Cowboy Code.
So, here's to life on the prairie with bursitis as an unexpected dance partner. Together we sway under the big and bright Texan sky, watching as the sun dips low, pondering over the adventures the new day will bring. After all, every creak in the ol'veranda, every rustle in the tall grass, and every twinge in my back just adds to the epic tale of Cowboy Jack. And the adventure is far from over, I promise you that, partner."