Watch Yore Topknot https://www.durangoherald.com/section/columnists-watch-yore-topknot/feed/ Stay informed with the latest breaking news, local stories, sports, business, weather, and community events from Durango, Southwest Colorado, and the Four Corners region. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:07:19 -0600 en-us 30 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/i-was-supposed-to/ When I think about living in a home that’s eight feet wide and twenty feet long there don’t seem to be that many places I could misplace anything. But I do. This whole dynamic of not being able to remember... Mon, 15 Oct 2018 09:03:06 -0600 780D779F-97C9-735E-E053-0100007F03C2 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/james-keep-forging-ahead/ du1-i-syn The New Mexico Cutting Horse Association held two cuttings in July at the Sky Ute Fairgrounds, and I think it would be fair to say that everyone had a blast. As for me, anytime you combine cows, good horses... Mon, 20 Aug 2018 01:30:00 -0600 73D9CE77-F4A0-1B68-E053-0100007FDEEB https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/on-ice-aka-la-migra/ Tom Jamesdu1-i-syn ICE, of course, stands for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It seems like these boys and girls have been really busy lately, ridding the country of people who pose a threat to our national security. Hogwash. In my... Sun, 29 Jul 2018 21:20:29 -0600 722FE3FB-3651-0E6D-E053-0100007F68D8 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/james-here-we-are-back-where-we-started/ The first hat I ever bought for myself was in 1966 and I was 8 years old. There was an “Army Navy” store in downtown Austin, Texas, and I figured they would have one. I had been scrapin’ change around... Mon, 30 Apr 2018 05:05:06 -0600 6B0438EB-583D-2953-E053-0100007F9889 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/james-being-good-just-like-you-are/ Tom James I’ve been draggin’ her around for years just ‘bong chinginin’ away whenever I could find somebody to tune her for me. I call her Bonnie, after Bonnie Parker of Bonnie & Clyde infamy, mostly because Thelma and Louise... Mon, 26 Mar 2018 05:03:57 -0600 6840DF83-0D6B-3781-E053-0100007F2902 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/james-when-luck-is-just-luck/ Tom Jamesdu1-i-syn Good luck, bad luck, lot’s of luck, no luck, it seems there is no end. After as careful a review of my life up to now, as a brain-damaged old cowboy can make, I’ve come to terms with... Mon, 05 Mar 2018 05:03:19 -0700 667C3A26-71A0-5C14-E053-0100007F4C63 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/riding-along-in-the-litter/ Tom James Empty snuff cans. Cigarette butts. Old wire from replaced fence lines and an occasional tire. This day I saw something that just tickled the heck out of me. Two big paper coffee cups from one of the “fancy”... Mon, 05 Feb 2018 05:05:35 -0700 6468FE77-1D00-073A-E053-0100007FCB8C https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/james-strong-words-and-actions/ Tom James They could and would no longer conform to tyranny and were willing to risk all for change. “We The People” are past the polite orderly chance for change. I hear people everywhere talk about all that needs changed,... Mon, 15 Jan 2018 05:03:55 -0700 62A2E9A6-5149-2863-E053-0100007FBCB0 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/going-round-in-circles/ Tom James Buzz and I are loping great big one-eighth mile circles. He has his head down and just enough round in his back to make it comfortable for us both. I have the reins thrown to him and get... Mon, 01 Jan 2018 05:03:21 -0700 617FCFD0-EB71-3D87-E053-0100007F2758 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/james-gettin-all-wound-up/ There’s a great Lynyrd Skynyrd song titled “Things going on.” It asks, “Have you ever lived down in the ghetto? Have you ever felt that cold wind blow? If you don’t know what I mean you better stand up and... Mon, 25 Dec 2017 05:03:21 -0700 60F45D2C-52AC-590E-E053-0100007F8044 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/james-the-solar-eclipse-blues/ Tom Jamesdu1-i-syn I had an event happen during the eclipse that inspired some thought and word. Music, too. I thought I’d share it with you, but it helps if you get a little bluesey beat going in your head. There,... Mon, 04 Dec 2017 05:03:19 -0700 5F60A9EA-866B-2FC6-E053-0100007FC8D4 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/james-humility-a-life-lesson/ Tom Jamesdu1-i-syn One of the greatest things about doing what I do now is that I don’t have to keep up with the calendar. The down side is that I seldom have any idea of what day of the week... Mon, 20 Nov 2017 05:03:45 -0700 5E3B137E-6015-35C9-E053-0100007FCC64 https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/heroes-idols-mentors/ du1-i-syn As the song says, my heroes have always been cowboys. Mine were a bunch of horse trader, beer-drinkin’ “ne’r-do-wells”. Probably not quite as criminal as Martha Stewart, but running a close second. Their favorite activity was to buy or... Mon, 06 Nov 2017 09:03:30 -0700 5D1D71C5-520C-4CD4-E053-0100007F169E https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/james-on-conflict-resolution/ du1-i-syn I was raised the only boy in families that numbered ten sisters. There were some “steps” and “halfs” in the count, but still it was ten to one. I had my own mom and two step moms. I’ve been... Mon, 23 Oct 2017 05:03:36 -0600 5C08F5DB-9D7C-7FA8-E053-0100007F4B0A https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/columnists/whos-got-room-for-hate/ Tom Jamesdu1-i-syn I began to see that I was processing information I was being given and having an emotional response to it. The catch was that the information I was being given was erroneous. I was being played. Man, that... Mon, 02 Oct 2017 05:03:24 -0600 5A57F860-1768-5508-E053-0100007F1559