Just think of one of those big, Texas leech ranches, with the vast herds of leeches being driven on leech drives by leechboys. The hard part is using the little, tiny, branding irons.
But after a hard day, they can settle down to a hearty meal of a plate full of arugula and feta cheese with vinaigrette by the chuck wagon, and listen to mp3s of Mylie Cyrus belting out her critically acclaimed accordion covers of Metallica’s greatest hits, while always on watch for attacks by space aliens and coyotes.
Actually, I’m more concerned with stampeding herds of carnivorous abalone; they’ll roll right over you.
And lets not play down the risk them ‘boys have. The only thing standing in the way of parts of Ft. Worth being leveled during a leech drive is the brave men on their horses, skilled use of a lasso, and maybe some salt.
Some of the toughest take a it step further, working the rodeo circuit during the off-season. Brave, or just plain crazy, these guys risk life and limb riding some of the most fearsome leeches. I’ve seen a rider get slimed, and it aint pretty.
Truth is, the original pilot for Bonanza was based on a leech ranch. With the advent of HD television, maybe now there can finally be a series about leech ranching. It’s about time this story about life here in the West in finally memorialized.