Cowgirl

I was recently asked if I'm a real cowgirl on a social media site I partake in. The exact question posed to me was "If you don't have cows, how can you be a cowgirl?"

I pondered that thought, let my hurt feelings stroll over the words and then I questioned myself. Maybe I'm really not a tried and true cowgirl? But I had the boots, the hat, the horse, spurs, a saddle and even a pick-up truck! Accordin' to good ol' Webster, the true definition of the word is: noun. a woman who herds and tends cattle on a ranch, especially in the western U.S., and who traditionally goes about most of her work on horseback.

Well, there was the answer...I am technically NOT a cowgirl. I don't spend all day in the saddle trailing cows. Hell, I wasn't even raised with cattle. I grew up tending to horses and mules, ornery men and dudes, riding mountain trails and passes, and cooking in Dutch ovens. But not a stitch of my time was spent with cattle.

So, I chewed on that thought a while longer and thought "the he** I'm not a cowgirl!" Being a cowgirl ain't just about swinging ropes, doctoring cows, calving and riding horses. Because, to be a cowgirl means you've got the grit in your gut and the attitude to accomplish anything. You have the ability to pull yourself up by the bootstraps and take life right by the horns.

Deep down, each woman I know has just a touch of cowgirl in her. She may be hailing a cab on a city street headed to a high-rise lawyer's office. She's a doctor or a nurse saving lives. She's a teacher expanding horizons and sculpting young minds. She pours herself into the books and balances the budget. She's the mother that just lost a child and still wakes to face the day.

She's lipstick, leather and lace. She's weathered hands that sling ropes, train colts and pet dogs and is the lady dressed to the nines to hit the town with her favorite guy. She fights fires, clears trails, packs mules and yes, works cows. She's gypsy-souled and beautiful music and guitar chords. She's fighting cancer with all she's got. She's a survivor and a winner.

But mostly, she's you and she's me. She's the fight to win and the calm in the storm. She's modern and old-fashioned. She sips fine wine and chugs a beer on a hot day. She kneels and prays at the end of the day to praise God for all she has and is.

You see, it doesn't matter what you are. Your job does not define you. It is your attitude, your heart and your beautiful mind and soul. Cowgirl is a title well earned and I am darn proud to be just that til I draw my last breath. And don't ever doubt that you are one too.

~Happy Trails~