So here’s the thing: when people say, “opposites attract,” they’re talking about couples like us. Myra – my wife – is a full-throttle, rodeo-hardened, horse-whispering cowgirl. Me? I’m a ministry and marketplace ROI, digital geek and strategy nerd who spends way too much time behind a computer screen and camera lens. But somehow, after 30 years of combining horsepower with hard drives, we’ve found our way. And yeah, it’s been a wild ride.
Let’s rewind to Sam Houston State University, where this all started. I was the guy juggling shifts at Casa Thomas, waiting tables for spare cash and hiding away in the computer and photo labs. I mean, I practically had a reserved seat there, tinkering with design, code, and marketing, figuring out my next big idea. Myra? She was tearing it up in rodeo arenas, competing at the PRCA level and practically living in the ring and also competed at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. We were two worlds orbiting the same campus, destined to collide.
Myra’s world? Dust, grit, and sheer power. She’s not just a cowgirl; she’s a competitive barrel racer, blazing around the arena on her barrel horse, Frosty, and speed events on her thoroughbred, Wendi. It’s a sight to see – Myra, Frosty, and Wendi, a blur of muscle and speed, racing the clock, flying over dirt. She’s been riding since before she could walk and breaking horses for as long as I can remember. To her, life is a series of wild sprints, each more intense than the last.
But one of the coolest stories in our relationship? The day she found Frosty Angel Pine. Imagine this: Myra, true to form, ends up in Kodiak Island, Alaska (yes, that’s Alaska), and stumbles upon this prize horse that she’d take back to Texas. Frosty became the icon, the legend, the one horse that still holds top billing in our family lore. Only Myra could find the horse of her dreams in the rugged wilds of Alaska, bring her back, and turn her into a rodeo competitor.
Now, while Myra was mastering the art of barrel racing and horse training, I was off in my own world, finding my groove in tech and strategy. I went deep – like, “what’s the latest software solution, cutting-edge digital marketing tool, or AI concept” kind of deep. I’ve been part of projects that light up my inner tech junkie, and let me tell you, the rush of creating something innovative, something disruptive, has a thrill all its own. Sure, it’s not a rodeo, but in its own way, it feels just as intense. And let’s be honest, there’s a certain adrenaline in watching an idea go from brainwave to reality.
If you’re wondering, “How do these worlds even connect?” the answer is… they don’t. And that’s the beauty of it. I’m in awe watching Myra command an arena, work with an animal who could knock her flat, while she stays steady, focused, and fearless. And, somehow, she puts up with me when I geek out over some tech breakthrough or a new camera lens. She’s seen me chase down dreams from code to camera, with that same intensity she brings to her horses, and there’s something about those totally different but oddly compatible passions that works.
We’ve been at this for 30 years, learning the ropes of each other’s worlds. She’s taught me about grit and the value of kicking up dust when it matters. I’d like to think I’ve introduced her to a few gadgets that make life on the road smoother. Together, we’ve built a life that feels like a mashup of grit and geekery. And let me tell you, it’s as close to a match made in heaven as you’ll get. Well… somewhat!
The Collective Agency : : Marketing, Creative & Innovation for Faith-Based Impact 