Four elderly ranchers were enjoying breakfast in a small cafe in northern Arizona. They were talking about everything from cattle, horses, and weather, to how things used to be in the

Four elderly ranchers were enjoying breakfast in a small cafe in northern Arizona. They were talking about everything from cattle, horses, and weather, to how things used to be in the "good ol' days." The conversation drifted to their aches and pains, and the challenges of getting older in a physically demanding profession. One of them, a grizzled old-timer named Jeb, sighed deeply, took a slow sip of his coffee, and declared, "God, please give me just one more chance to rope a wild mustang like I used to! My back aches so bad these days, I can barely saddle my horse without making sounds like a dying badger!"

His friend, Silas, a man whose face was as craggy as the Grand Canyon, grunted in agreement. "Shoot, Jeb, you got it easy. My knees pop so loud when I stand up, folks think there's popcorn goin' off in the next county! I'm prayin' for just one day where I can walk without feelin' like I'm wearin' concrete boots!"

Then came ol' Gus, who was partially deaf and had a tendency to shout. "WHAT'S THAT, SILAS? YOU WANT MORE BUTTER ON YOUR TOAST? SPEAK UP, SONNY! ME, I'M JUST ASKIN' THE LORD FOR A PAIR OF EYES THAT CAN SPOT A COYOTE BEFORE HE'S ALREADY HALF-EATEN MY PRIZE HEN! THESE NEW GLASSES AIN'T WORTH A BAG OF BEANS!"

The fourth rancher, a quiet man named Earl, who usually just listened, slowly put down his fork. He looked at his three complaining companions with a twinkle in his eye. "You fellas are askin' for all sorts of grand miracles. Ropin' mustangs, silent knees, eagle eyes... Me? I'm just prayin' to God for one thing."

Jeb leaned in, curious. "What's that, Earl? A bigger ranch? A gold mine?"

Earl took another sip of coffee, a wry smile spreading across his face. "Nah," he said, "I'm just prayin' for God to help me remember where I left my truck keys this mornin'. Been lookin' for 'em for three days now, and I walked here."

The other three ranchers stared at him, then at each other, and then burst into uproarious laughter, shaking the small cafe with their booming guffaws. Even the waitress, who had heard every rancher complaint under the sun, cracked a smile.