Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Cowboy

Whatever happened to the cowboys? The guys that did hard work and were proud of it? The guys that were rough and couldn't be changed? The guys that were hairy and ugly and dirty 'cause that's what a man is?

I see a buncha guys in this world and damn if they ain't the prettiest buncha girls I ever seen. I know guys that shave their chest, wax their eyebrows, trim the hair on their legs, and complain about razor bumps in places I didn't wanna know nuthin' about. Yet they still have the hierarchy between 'em as far as who's manliest and who's the toughest. Just a buncha girls.

I'm sorry if you like your men well groomed and prissy. I won't ever be that. I get regular haircuts and take regular baths, you know? I'm no slob but damn, what happened to the boys that grew up wantin' to be cowboys? Somewhere along the way they started gettin' pedicures and manicures. There's always been those pretty boy types I suppose. And of course there are those gay guys that keep themselves well groomed, some might call that girly. It seems to me more and more that a man, a real meat eatin', beer drinkin', cigar smokin', tire changin', door openin' Man is gettin' harder and harder to find.

Instead, you got theses spray-tanned, muscleheads that spend more time workin' on their looks than workin'. And the guys that never did much more than coast through life on daddy's money. How 'bout diggin' a ditch or learnin' a trade?

I've been workin' since I was 12. Dad took me out on jobs and I had to earn my keep same as anybody else. I learned to install faucets and commodes. I dug trenches for septic tanks. I spent my summers in Texas attics changin' out water heaters.

Dad taught me how to change the brakes on my first car along with the oil and tires. I learned how to be responsible with it. I've been given a lot of great information on bein' a man from the best man I know. It's where a boy should learn that stuff.

Maybe my dad was a lot better than most dads. He was never one to really go in for trends or worry about much more than payin' bills and bein' where he was needed. Bein' pretty or super fit didn't really come up on his radar. (Is it black? Does it fit? Not frilly? I'll wear it.)

There aren't many real men left and it seems they're dyin' fast. Society wants you to be in touch with your feelin's and sensitive and proper and pretty. Look, if my dad can be a good man, if he can pay his bills, be there for me, be a good dad without ever seemin' less than a man I don't see why I can't.

I'm just like him in so many ways. I know we've got our differences and some are more manly and others are are prolly more effeminate. I am slower to be angry than he is. To some this has been seen as a fear of fightin'. Sometimes I wonder if it is but I've been in a few scuffles. I know I can handle myself. But I won't just clobber a bum for bein' a bum.



Many times though I just find myself in situations where I'm thinkin' what the hell am I doin'? Watchin' Jersey Shore on a Thursday night? Teen Mom on Tuesday? Goin' to take pictures with a bunny in a pumpkin' patch with my girlfriend? I wanna say fuck all that bullshit.

That's not what a man does. I don't give a damn about those shows or bein' cute. But it's what you do when you got a woman. It's what you do when you gotta family.

Dad drove us to school. He gave us advice. He played with us. He is easily offended. He damn near cried when Mom dumped his chicken pot pies on a plate for him. (They're properly served in those lil tin things they come in, you know?) He has mommy issues. But he also never changed diapers. He drank more beer than was healthy for him. He smoked more cigarettes than he should've. He got into fights with people and later on thought, "Oh, maybe they were right. Oh well. Shoulda been more polite about it." He was always gruff and tough as nails. He stood his ground and no one could ever tell him he was a sissy or what to do or that he couldn't do anything he wanted to do.

And maybe those few things are all it takes to be that cowboy I always wanted to be. I can watch some dumb shows or enjoy the company of an adorable rabbit. I can be nice to my girl. I can play with lil kids. I can do whatever the hell I please I just gotta walk with my head held high and not take shit off no fools.

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