My heroes have always been cowboys, and
they still are, it seems. I am sure that a number of your recognized the title of a song by Willie Nelson, himself a certain type of cowboy/hero type, but more on him and that idea later. And yes, for those that are wondering, on one of my recent late drives I put in a greatest hits of Willie and after listening, I was inspired for at least five or six blogs.
So, as to my heroes – just as the song says, I spent most of my youth dreaming of and playing at being just like one my heroes. Not sure that I learned the little bits about taking what you need from the ladies and leaving them with a sad country song until a bit later – but I am not sure that is absolutely a requirement – though I guess in reality that lonely drifter image that is unwilling to bend to anyone or anything, including progress is part of the attraction. It is certainly the reason that they are still my heroes today.
I wonder sometimes though, just how many of those of that hold cowboys as our heroes, especially the legendary type, could still live that life today? Again, the song, own brand of misery – alone too long – dying from the cold – best days are gone – hookers – and old worn out saddles – with no one and no place to stay. A lot of paraphrasing there, but you get the best and worst of the romantic image there in the second verse. And while I sometimes dream of a simpler life like that and have maybe even come close a little bit at times, I don’t think I could just end up with basically my possessions being my saddle and boots and my connections to the world being my horse and possibly my dog. I suppose there are few folks that still come close to this deal today, I am mindful of rodeo participants especially and a few ranch hands as well – and I sure Baxter Black could tell me a few more.
Then again, as I write this I am still at the office at eight something P.M. and suddenly I realize that maybe it is not such a bad way of life. Well, okay, I would prefer to actually have the lady friend that I am fortunate enough to have continue to be my friend, so excepting the leaving her with a sad country song, I can see how this lifestyle would be very appealing. And see, even there is my caveat – I think I could deal with a horse or two, old used saddles I love and giving up a lot of other stuff sounds good – but to love and be loved is hard to give up.
Anyway, I have digressed so far from my original thought here. My original thought was something more like it takes that cowboy type to be a hero. Someone unbending, willing to do what they think is right at all cost, even if the rest of the world thinks they are wrong, which is often the case. Just think about someone who you think of as being a hero and see if they don’t have that little bit of cowboy attitude to them.
Guess I am going to go ride off into the sunset, which is what I hear old tired cowboys do – but wait – the sun went down over two hours ago, its raining, and my horse is over in the next county. Well, at least I have my dog with me.
