Friday, October 10, 2008

My Love Affair with Cowboys

You gotta love a cowboy! I was reminded this week about when my fascination and passion for reading cowboy heroes started. You see, my youngest daughter is a hardcore romantic like her mother. While looking at my queue on my NETFLIX account, I found several movies that I saw years ago when I was just a few years older than she is now. One movie was Urban Cowboy.

I remember watching Urban Cowboy in the movie theater about 4 times, 4 days in a row. I asked my daughter why she wanted to get the movie when I know she and I have seen it on cable together several times. She didn't really have to answer. I knew the reason. It's the same reason why my 14 year old loves to watch The Big Valley! You gotta love a cowboy.

Cowboys are rare in New England. Unless the PBR is having a bull riding show in Worcester, you won't see a cowboy here. The first time I ever saw a cowboy was on a business trip to Tucson about 25 years ago. I was having dinner with my boss, Patricia, at the hotel restaurant right next to a floor to ceiling window. In the distance, the sun was setting over breathtaking red mountains and I was mesmerized by how the sky was changing when I saw a FORD pickup pull into the parking lot. A tall young man sporting Wranglers and a cowboy hat got out. He walked all the way across the parking lot to the front door with the two of us locked in a stare. Just as he reached for the door, he tipped his hat at me and smiled. I was a gonner. Patricia urged me to go talk to him and I said no. I was getting on a plane to Boston the next morning. I'd probably make a fool of myself and beside, was it really going to get better than that? It's been a nice memory for the last 25 years and was revisited many times while I was writing my Texas Hearts series for Avalon.

In truth, I love writing about all types of heroes, especially cowboys, military heroes and cops. It's the same code of honor, same dedication and yes, the uniform isn't bad either. Each one of these heroes wears a uniform of sorts. I hope to be able to write about all these heroes. What's your favorite? Until next time, many blessings, Lisa

2 comments:

EllenToo said...

If I had to pick just one I'd have to pick the cowboy but that's because I'm a Texan by birth and I live here now. But I could go with a military hero or a cop just as easily.

Pamela Tracy said...

We do have our share of cowboys here. I teach freshman English. Yesterday one of my students walked in wearing a long sleeved bullrider's shirt. Having just finished a bull rider hero, I joked... "You think they should return Nationals to Oklahoma?" "Yup," he said, "Vegas just ein't the same."
Gosh, I wish I'd had him last semester when I had all kinds of questions. My bull rider last semester (again a student) was a beginning bull rider. This year, I have a seasoned bull rider in class.