Bulls and the Fools Who Ride Them

My husband does business with the PBR, Professional Bull Riders, and we occasionally attend their events.  Earlier this year we went with Alyssa and her whole family to a PBR event in Anaheim.  4 Adults, 7 kids, some dust, cow poop, and lots and lots of bulls.  We had a blast.  This past weekend the PBR Finals were in Las Vegas, so my husband and I took the kids for one shit-kicking weekend.

We started the weekend off being very spoiled by hitching a ride on a friend’s jet.  The kids each got a turn riding in the cockpit.  McKenna didn’t want to leave the jump seat, but when we reminded her that the plane had a full movie library, she willingly went back to her seat.

Once in Vegas, we checked in at the Luxor.  What better “theme” for the kids than a giant pyramid with a light that shoots up to space.  They were completely in awe.  “Look kids!  We’re inside the pyramid,” we’d say as we walked thru the hotel looking up at the peak of the ceiling.  “Wow!” was their response as they tilted their heads all the way back to stare upward.

On our first night we took the kids to see Criss Angel, the illusionist.  The kids were mesmerized by the music, dancing and, of course, the magic.  I was a little nervous when the chainsaw trick started, so I reminded the twins that this was all fake.  They seemed to take it in okay, but I certainly wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with kids who have a tendency to get scared.

The next morning we all ordered room service before heading down to take the kids to the Titanic exhibit and the Bodies exhibit which featured actually preserved human bodies.   I remember when the exhibit made it’s way thru Los Angeles, everyone warned me not to take the kids.  “It will freak them out!”  people said.  But as we walked thru the show in Las Vegas, the kids were absolutely amazed, asking so many questions about each part of the body.  Of course Aidan had to walk around the back and show us where the poop comes out.  Thank you, Aidan, for pointing that one out to all of us, oh, and to do it on each and every body in the exhibit.  I’m sure the other patrons also appreciated it.  The most fascinating part of the Bodies exhibit was the room with all of the fetuses.  The kids were able to see week to week stages of development of the baby.  They all just stood and stared.

Once we were done with the exhibits, it was on to the bulls!  The PBR Finals event itself had a lot going on.  There were day time activities, with loads of vendors selling everything from cowboy boots and hats, to western furniture.  There was the “Mutton Run” where 4 and 5 year old kids, in full western garb including chaps, were placed on the back of sheep and told to hold on for dear life while the sheep ran full speed across a corral.  There was even an electric bull for the amateur folks to ride.  Of course my kids had to give it a try.  The operator was kind enough to keep it on a reasonable speed, but it still gave the kids a thrill.

Finally it was time for some rides.  We headed to the event stadium, loaded up on sports arena food, and took our seats. There is something about bull riding that sucks you in.  Maybe it’s the action.  Maybe it’s the power of the bulls.  Maybe it’s the courage of the riders.  Or maybe it’s the risk of something bad happening.  Each time a bull and rider come bursting out of the pen, you wonder, “It this going to be the one where someone gets really hurt.”  It’s similar to NASCAR.  You know that half the spectators are there waiting to see a good crash.  It’s really sick, when you think about it, yet I’m not going to deny that these thoughts went thru my head.

On the first night there were two moderate injuries.  One rider had his eye socket smashed.  Another rider dislocated his shoulder.  Both spent the evening at the nearest hospital.  Now, keep in mind, those are moderate.  You can only imagine what a bad injury would be. On the second day we witnessed a horrific ride.  As a rider was beginning to fall off, he tried to release his tightly wrapped hand from the rope, but it was stuck.  This happens fairly often and is a common cause for injury.  For what seemed like minutes, the caught rider was tossed around like a rag doll while his hand lay wedged in the rope around the bulls middle.  The man’s body twisted, his shoulder, wrist and hand pulled and whipped, while the bull bucked and kicked, flipped and flung his entire body around.  At a certain point, the man next to me and I had to look away with panicked dread on our faces not wanting to witness such a tragic scene.  “Get him off!”  people were yelling, but the clowns who are there to protect the riders could do nothing.  The ropers atop horses ready to lasso the bull couldn’t throw a loop for fear of catching the rider.  No one could do a thing until that rider’s rope released his hand.  Finally, the rope gave and the rider was flung to the side.  The entire stadium held it’s breath watching the rider, when he stood up, brushed himself off and walked away, totally uninjured.  It was amazing.  And though he was safe, it was not a scene any of us wanted to witness again.

The rest of the event went smoothly and Cody Lostroh was award the PBR Championship.  If you’ve never been to a bull riding event, it is one exiting way to spend an evening with your kids.  For more information, visit PBRnow.com.

And as for Las Vegas, we can’t wait to take the kids back.  There is so much to see there, between exhibits, Cirque du Soleil, magic, etc.  And with the bad economy, less people are gambling, so you can find some great deals on hotels.

On our flight back to Los Angeles, my husband and I gazed the kids while they sat in their plush seats, watching a movie, at 30,000 feet on a friend’s private jet.  Sean turned to me and said, “Would you look at them!  You know, in my next life, I want to come back as my kids.”  I thought to myself, who knows, maybe we already did.