Vet students are a different breed. They invest massive amounts of time, energy, and money, in the pursuit of a dream that will allow them to care for animals as a profession. It takes a great deal of passion and stamina to see this through.
Brittney is no exception. She is giving up large portions of her final summer vacation to follow me around, and try to glean a few bits of wisdom that might help her out (the pickings are pretty slim in that department with me).
This morning we were on a dairy preg-checking cattle. This dairy cares greatly about the welfare of their cattle, and on hot days like this they run misters to keep the cows more cool and comfortable. This is nice for the cows, but makes the apron where I stand to work a little more sloppy.
We were nearly done with a pen, and had just pushed the loose cows to the end where I could sort through the stragglers. As I was turning one cow back, I could tell by the way she was turning that she was going to create a huge tidal wave of slop.
Brittney did not see this coming.
I thought about being a gentleman and using my body as a human shield against the oncoming wave of slop. But then I thought about the passion Vet students have for learning, and their desire to experience the sights and sounds of veterinary practice. So not wanting to deprive Brittney of a learning experience I stepped to the side like a matador saying "Olé" and let the wave of "slop" envelop her in it's path.
Of course being a woman, Brittney had her mouth open talking at the moment the wave hit. She was covered in green head to toe. She looked like some swamp thing emerging from a primordial ooze.
Through the slop she was spitting out, she was muttering something I couldn't quite make out. But I'm sure it meant "thank you for the learning experience."
We hosed her off, but the slop was wet enough it had soaked right through her coveralls. Being the gentleman that I am, and not wanting her to have to smell herself in the confines of the cab of my pickup, we kindly strapped her on top of the vet box and down the road we went. This not only provided her with fresh air to breathe, but the hot sun, and the wind from the moving truck served to dry her off.
I think she even yelled a few more "thank yous" as we traveled down the road. Vet students are indeed a different breed.