The Check's in the Mail

By: Lana Chumney

Texas A&M University, Class of 2011

In the summer, just before I started vet school, I went home to visit my parents for the weekend.  They owned a small family operated dairy, and by family operated, I mean anyone who happened to be around when the work was taking place.  This particular weekend, my neighbor was having an appreciation party for the customers at his mechanic shop.  He had bar-b-q and even a band with dancing.  My parents were still in the hay field working and unable to attend so, being the ever wonderful daughter that I am, I thought it might be nice to take them some food. 

Well it just so happened that as I arrived, a heifer was having trouble calving.  Of course, to my dad this sounded like the perfect opportunity for “hands on experience for the future veterinarian.”  So in all of about an hours’ time, I went from eating bar-b-q, to pulling a calf, to back dancing at the party.  Seeing as how I was trying to do my parents a favor and ended up missing half the party staring at the rear end of a cow, I did what any good veterinarian would do- I mailed them a giant bill!  To my dismay, I learned one of the most valuable lessons that they don’t teach you in school.  About a week later, I got a call from my parents.  They were laughing as they opened the bill, and said “the check’s in the mail.”  And I’m still waiting by the mailbox…