Where Have All the Cowboys Gone

I went camping with my family a week or so ago and as we were driving back to our campground from a hike, we noticed a man riding a horse.  Behind him, cows were making an uphill climb on the opposite side of the road.  Instead of slowing down, we had to come to a complete stop to make way for a few road rage cows.  With all the cow excitement, I almost missed, what seemed to be a mirage.  It was a boy, actually, a MAN, riding a horse in full cowboy attire, aviator sunglasses, and a sweet smile on his face.  I thought I was in a John Wayne movie!  I almost forgot my parents were in the car and I had to stop myself from drooling before anyone noticed.  He waved, probably at me, and kept those cows in line! 

A modern day cowboy!  What a MAN!  Have you ever seen a western movie?  I’ve seen Tombstone about a thousand times!  I used to imagine myself riding off into the sunset with Wyatt Earp.  We’d ride all the way to the courthouse to change his last name so we could get married and I wouldn’t have to introduce myself as Julia Earp.  No way would my last name be confused with someone belching.  Guys like Wyatt, Doc, and John were and still are the epitome of a real man!  So, where have all the cowboys gone?  Do they live in Texas?  Do I need to move?  Should I start attending rodeos as a part of my weekend routine?  Paula Cole wanted to know where the cowboys went in 1997.  She turned her question into a hit song, reaching millions, and I’m fairly certain she didn’t get an answer.  Paula, if you read this, the only cowboy I know of is herding cows in Kernville, California.

In lieu of seeing a real life cowboy, I decided to research and list the top ten reasons why every girl must date one.  One: they’re hot, duh.  Two: they’re well-mannered.  Three: they line dance.  Four: they ride horses and look good doing it.  Five: they wear flannel shirts. Six: they address you by saying Ma’am.  Seven: they’re usually Republican.  Eight: they want kids, a lot of them.  Nine: they’re quite the handymen when it comes to fixing things. And last but not least, ten: they can rock a helluva mustache.

I’ll leave you with this: if you see a cowboy, email me.  I’ve got some rope in my car to lasso him up.  It’s not creepy, it’s called being prepared.  As always, happy dating everyone!

Age and Expectation

We’ve all heard that age is nothing but a number, but I’m sure whoever came up with that probably was dating someone around the same age as their grandparent or grandchild.  It’s true; age shouldn’t matter if you’ve found the love of your life but with age comes expectations.    

Let me explain what I mean.   My expectation of a thirty-some year old man is reasonable.  He should have a good job (or at least a job), be mature, and hold a conversation.  Unfortunately in recent dates, my expectations have been shot, beaten, and run over by a semi-truck.

I know better than to have ANY expectations on a first date.  But it should be a generally accepted concept that if you date older, you have less to worry about.  Like they won’t have braces, ask you to drive, or wear socks with sandles in public(ew).  There should be a sense of calm knowing you are going on a date with someone who is past their fraternity and beer bonging days.

In short, the moral of the post is this; expectations of any kind, not just age, can set you up for disappointment. Let go of those expectations and be pleasantly surprised.  Keep calm and date on!