moo moo

As you may know, for the last week, we have been hut-to-hut hiking through the Swiss Alps. Rowena (who loves to develop little obsessions with random things) noticed a herd of cattle and instantly became obsessed with the chorus of the clanging of the cowbells around the herd’s necks.

About three wonderful days later after lots of cowbell gazing and listening we popped into a gift shop and, sure enough, there were cowbells. We all said that we had to get cowbells someday but not then. And sure enough, two days later, we were in a cute village called Mürren that had touristy and local appeal. After a long hike, I charged into a gift shop and was delighted by the many cowbells that we could get to attach to our pack. As we left the store, we laughed and ran around, trying to make our cowbells as loud as possible.

We ran to our hotel and sat back and relaxed in the best and the most magnificent hotel that we had been in yet. Everybody’s spirits were high, and we watched English television with joy. We talked about the day and how we went up the funicular and, we wondered what it would sound like if we went up a funicular with our cowbells.

The next day we took a long hike to our next hut in a remote hut accessible by walking called Rotstockhütte. As we entered the remote hut, our cowbells alerted everybody to our presence. We settled down and, our bells stopped causing a racket. But all of a sudden a great series of clanging started. I sped outside only to see that the field outside was full of cows shaking their heads ringing their bells so that they would be milked. “What a great end to our first day with cowbells,” I thought.

The next day was our final day hiking, and it was a gruesome downhill hike. Our cowbells were clanging around so loudly that our ears started to hurt.

At the end of our hike, we took a tram down and every time we got to a tower and the tram shook all of our cowbells rang. When we boarded the bus to the train station everybody on board looked around for a cow but nope, it was just us and our cowbells stirring up a racket as usual.

I have three things that I love about our cowbells.
The reason I love our cowbells first is that it’s so random. Think about it, Rowena just came out of the blue and became obsessed with it, so we proceeded to all get cowbells, and now we all love it.
The second reason I love our cowbells is that they are so loud and funny. Wherever you go when the cowbell rings people look for a cow, and are completely confused when they don’t see one.
The third reason I love our cowbells is that how much Rowena enjoys them. Whenever hers is ringing, or she is ringing it she laughs, and her face lights up in the biggest smile you have ever seen. But if you take it away from her it is hell on earth and she unleashes the cry of a banshee.

Getting these cowbells was a great decision, and I cant wait to see how it jingles on an airplane when there is turbulence or on some other form of transportation that jiggles a lot.