My Take Tuesday: The Cowboy

He is as tough as steel.

He was stationed in East Germany from 1970-1973.  He was tasked with crossing over to West Germany to take reconnaissance photographs. The threat of capture was a constant. On one occasion, while in transit, his vehicle was narrowly missed by active fire.  

Following Germany, he pursued a distinguished career of 29 years for the Utah Highway Patrol. He served as head of the Utah County service office. He also was assigned lieutenant commander of the Mounted Patrol of security during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He also was the bodyguard for Utah governors Bangerter and Matheson.  His storied career is something regular people like me could only dream of accomplishing.

As a child, my favorite action figures were He-Man toys. I had quite the collection. My go-to was one named Man-At-Arms. He was the commander of the Royal Guard. He was fiercely loyal to He-Man.  Man -At-Arms had piercing brown eyes and a mustache. I would spend hours and hours playing with these action figures.

The first time I met Ken Peay, I felt like I was meeting a real-life Man-At-Arms. I found him to be everything the hero of my childhood stood for. He was loyal, he was a doting father, and a hard-working farmer. 

Somehow, this mountain of a man became my friend. He has volunteered hundreds of hours helping me care for the resident reindeer herd at Mountain West Animal Hospital. He is the only person I trust with these pets. His observant eye and gentle voice calm even the flightiest reindeer.

On two occasions, I needed help transporting reindeer to Utah from Western Oregon. He dropped everything. Not only that, but he also drove his own pickup truck and pulled a gooseneck trailer. He traveled to Eugene, Oregon and back to Utah. Over 900 miles each way. He made this trip TWICE. 

I could write dozens and dozens of stories just like these. Ken is a wonderful and genuine person. The best of the best. I love him dearly. 

Governor Matheson died in 1990 from a pernicious cancer called Multiple Myeloma. This unfair opponent rarely loses. It ravages the bone marrow and destroys the immune system.  

Ken received this same diagnosis last year. He faced this giant with stoicism, with determination and with the toughness of a cowboy. He put his boots on, pulled his hat down tight and quietly endured the debilitating treatments and horrific side effects that accompany them. After several months of these relentless treatments, he went through the arduous process of receiving a stem cell transplant. Thankfully, the transplant was a success. Hour by hour, day by day Ken has steadily regained his strength. His toughness is an inspiration to me. 

Many of us simply give up when faced with a seemingly insurmountable challenge. The desire to quit afflicts all of us. One day its summer. Fall suddenly is here and gone in a flash. And without warning, the icy hand of winter is knocking at your door. These challenges present in our relationships, our employment or in the day-to-day changes that life inevitably presents. While an ordinary man may face fear and quickly submit to its overwhelming presence, Ken faced it strait on. 

A few years ago, during a severe winter storm, I passed a herd of bison standing in a large meadow on the side of the road. The storm was intense, with over 18 inches of accumulation is just a few hours. The bison, ironically, stood still in the middle of the meadow. In conditions that would kill entire herds of cattle, these majestic animals stand face first in the winter fury as the wind blows and the snow accumulates. They don’t turn their hindquarters into the wind, nor do they move with it. They stand and face the storms of life undaunted, stoic, and valiant. 

Perhaps we would do well to emulate the bison, as we encounter the uncertainties and challenges that we face in life. The storms of life will inevitably come, so why not face them?  And face them with strength, determination, and power.  Sure, it’ll feel uncomfortable at first. It may even be scary. However, if we get comfortable with the feeling of being uncomfortable – that discomfort will begin to lessen.

I don’t know how long your storm will last or how intense it is. But I am confident we will all fare the storm better if we face it head on. Just breathe, put your head down and find a way through. We must have tough times to fully appreciate the good times that lie ahead. 

Ken, thank you for teaching me this lesson. I look forward to the good times ahead. 

And that is my take. 

N. Isaac Bott, DVM