Grandma Onnie and the cow's tail...

"Back in the day" (whenever that was) our area of NW Marion County
was what was referred to as "free range" or "open range".  That meant 
livestock ran free, not having to be fenced in.  Cattle were identified 
by brands on their rumps and/or "markings" on their ears.  Our mark was 
a crop, two slits and and under bit in one ear and a slit and an under 
bit in the other.  Our brand was "JC".  I still have the old branding 
iron.

Also, "back in the day", car air conditioning consisted of riding
with all the windows down and the little vent windows in the front
doors turned around backwards to channel all the air they could
into the car.  Many people...like Grandma Onnie...road with their
elbows extended out the front car window.  Grandma Onnie, being the
matriarch of the family, always road in the right passenger seat,
with elbow extended out the window.

She tells the story of passing through a group of cows on the road.
She reached out and patted one on the rump. At this point, the cow
switched its tail, wrapping it around Grandma's arm. Had they
not been going so slow, she could well have lost an arm or suffered
severe damage.

Ah, the good ol' days!