I had a real, live cowboy in my house yesterday. This is one of the few times I've even seen a real cowboy here in Arizona, and I've never actually spoken with one, nor had one in my home. He only spoke a few words, but left me very impressed.
Let me explain that I may have seen a cowboy before, but didn't know it. I've never spoken to one that was so obviously a typical cowboy. One that I would recognize as such. Here in Phoenix, it seems like almost everyone is from someplace else. And that someplace else is usually east of Arizona. I've met several people from New Jersey, like me. I've met people from Ohio, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Kansas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and other states. I love asking people why they came to Arizona. The answer is usually one of a few scenarios. Usually they came here because their parents, or other family member moved here. They heard it was cheap to live in Arizona and the weather was good. I have only met one person who doesn't like living in Arizona and can't wait to move back east. He was a waiter in a Mexican restaurant. He said something about the schools here and something about missing the four seasons that can be found in the east. I can see his point about the seasons, but it hasn't bothered me yet.
This all brings me back to the cowboy in my house yesterday. He was with the pesticide company and came to spray the inside and outside of my house. Someone comes once a month and usually it's a different guy. Today, I opened the door to a handsome young man standing in the doorway. He was holding his cowboy hat in his hand, held against his chest. He was soft-spoken and called me "Ma'am." It was a hot day and I offered him water. He said "Yes, Ma'am." Usually, the guy from the exterminators is very nice and friendly. There was something about this cowboy that set him apart from the rest. He was quiet and very gentlemanly. He had impeccable manners and spoke with a slight western accent. A western accent is subtle. My boyfriend has one, and he's one of the only people that I've met that has it. It's almost like a southern accent, but not as pronounced and not exactly the same, either. This young man had a demeanor about him that's hard to put a finger on and difficult to explain. It's almost shy, but with a quiet confidence. If I had a daughter, I would trust him with her. It might be a total put-on, but it worked with me. I was impressed. No one back east is like that. And it's this type of western gentleman aura that first impressed me about my boyfriend. He has a way of speaking that's old-fashioned and respectful. Couple that with that sweet western accent and I was head-over-heels in a matter of a couple days.
The exterminator really didn't do anything impressive. He walked around and sprayed, just like the other guy does. What set him apart was his demeanor, smile, western accent and calling me "Ma'am." He was so cute, I wished I could have adopted him. I have a yearning to go see a rodeo now. I've never seen one. Or maybe it's called a "hankering" to go see a rodeo. All I know is I want to see some more fit young men in cowboy hats. It's a whole 'nuther word from what I'm used to back east.