About Cowboys

Post 73:

            What makes the idea of the cowboy so alluring? His laconic nature, directness, simplicity—they’ve all endured through story since the 1800’s. I’ve loved westerns since I was in short pants, probably like a lot of people. Tell me Lonesome Dove isn’t awesome. The book or the TV series, take your pick. I’m watching the Netflix series Longmire right now when I get the chance. It ain’t Shakespeare, but it’s pretty cool to see an old west spirit being played against the vicissitudes of the modern world. So check it out. That’s my review. More to say, though. General type stuff.

            As time stretches out farther from the days of the cowboy, it seems their allure only gets stronger. Maybe it’s the simple fact that men today are so complicated, so seemingly pulled apart at the seams. Hey, I’m not saying there’s no cowboys left; certainly there are. And there’s the fact that we’re doing what humans tend to do: romanticizing the past. I mean, hey, we’ve got running water. Take that, cowboy.

            But the fact remains. The spirit of the lone rider alone with his thoughts is still something that captivates. It takes an immense amount of inner strength to face down nature, dudes with guns, I don’t know, bears… I could go on.

            I’ve been working on a western for some time now. Ironically, it’s harder for me to write because they almost write themselves. All the classic conflicts are imbedded into the character before you even begin. Man against himself, man against nature, man against man—pretty much the entirety of the cosmos is pushing back against our archetypal cowboy.

            I’ll get it done, though. And when I eventually spin my tale I’ll be facing the uphill challenge of writing characters that I have little in common with. Let’s face it, it’s hard to be terse and reserved when your whole bit is making up stories and waxing about whatever strikes your fancy on an almost daily occasion. I’ll do my best, though. Maybe some of that strong silent ethos will rub off on me.

            Or maybe not. Either way, I’ll try not to worry about it. Just saddle up and move on. There’s a saying: “worry is a rocking horse. It’s a thing you do that don’t get you anywhere.” Damn. Cowboys are cool.

            See you after.