A guy slaughtered a cow for our camping trip on July 4th.
He was totally unknown to me until then. But he just decided at the campsite that he
would slaughter a cow for us to cook and that we should stay another day. (Initially, we all wanted to leave on Sunday morning after arriving on Friday evening; he suggested we stay till Monday--which was also an off-work day.)
This was quite a surprise for all of us, of course. Four of us guys were there just to catch some rainbows at this favorite spot of the other three regular campers. But this new guy who just appeared to camp with us because he knew the others well but who didn't even fish--he bought a new trailer and a new motor for his girlfriend and they were camping on the same site we were on--he proposed to slaughter the cow at his own expense.
As he was proposing that at the bonfire, I asked the other three anglers if this man was serious.
"Yes," one of them said. "He does what he says he will do."
But a cow? Just for camping? When I didn't even know him yet?
That was my wonder.
The man went to his trailer and took out $1,500.00 cash and handed it to one of the other three--his closest business partner from California.
"You are in charge," said he to the receiving friend.
The friend told us that all of us would have to go to the local farms to get one in the morning.
Indeed, we did go to the local Amish, English, and Norwegian farms but were told they had a full schedule for two months or so.
One of the guys called back to the Twin Cities. Long Cheng said they would close at noon and wouldn't slaughter anymore that Sunday, since it was J4.
Wisconsin butcher houses would be closer--the La Crosse area.But none would do any slaughtering. One contact said they had some fresh beef in their freezser if we wanted those.
Nawh. We wanted to slaughter a cow our own way. I felt this was camping and so might as well might it as weird and fun as possible.
Had to call the Twin Cities some more and found a willing English butcher house north of the St. Paul area.
We drove about three hours up, took about three hours to slaughter and prep the cow--after deciding against two handsome angus oxen.
About three hours back down and we were already taking out our flash lights and starting our bon fire.
Larp, stew, roasted beef, etc. were prepared for the night. Plus, the famous steamed rice, of course. Both sticky and non-sticky.
By morning, the guy said to divide the remains among us four. One of the guys said he wouldn't take any. So, the remains were divided into three shares.
I had to thank the guy for this generosity. I called him up the following week to see if he was still in town and that I would like to meet up with him again over lunch to thank him and to get to know him more. He proposed a time and day for us for dinner.
When we met up, I told him right upfront to order anything he wanted and that I was treating him.
Near the middle of our meal, he stood up to the restroom but wouldn't go without telling me not to pay.
"If you pay, I'm not going to be happy with you," he said. "I'll pay for all of this for us."
I said "Ok."
He ordered four shots of Hennessy. My first time tasting this whiskey. We cheered our friendship.
But we couldn't finish the boneless duck feet dish, the fried watercress, the boiled clams, the veggie with rice dish--all my choosings.
"Pack them for you," he said.
I said we should share half each then.
He insisted he didn't want any. He then asked if I wanted a roast duck, too. I said I liked it but it wasn't necessary. He called up the owner of the Chinese restaurant--a friend of his--and ordered the duck for me to take home.
Just imagine that!
Topic: I知 thinking about killing another cow for a small family summer gathering (Read 3945 times)