Ride 'em, Cowboy!

My newfound love of cowboy boots and hat have triggered some comments:

(1)

A few weeks ago. Grocery store. I was the last one standing in line at the checkout. A woman employee comes up behind me -- to close the register. She grabs the little chain and clicks it into place to block the lane behind me.

She says, "I'm gonna chain you up, buddy."

So I reply, "I love it when a woman says that to me."

She shoots me a look and a smile, and says, "I'll bet you do! You cowboys are all the same." Then she adds, "Oh, and boots too! You guys are trouble!"

Smiles all around.

(2)

Same store. Last week. A little three-year-old girl spies me in the cereal aisle. She looks me up and down, and I hear her as I walk past,

"Mummy! Look!" she says, "Him is a cowboy."

(3)

Yesterday. Palm Springs. Wal Mart. I walk into the men's room. I'm standing at the, ahem, urinal, and a guy walks in.

I hear him say, "So where's the rodeo?"

Without looking up, I say, "Just down the street, but be careful -- make sure you bring your own horse because if you ride one they give you, you'll break your back."

He continues, "So, it's down the street is it? How far?"

I pause, thinking, what is this guy talking about?

He goes, "No really, there's a rodeo in town!"

So I say, "Sorry pal, I'm not with the rodeo, I'm from Twentynine Palms, and well, this is the way we dress up there?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry," he said, "You must have thought I was making fun of you."

"Well, I did, actually," I said, as I washed my hands, "But, believe me, pal, I've had a lifetime of it, so I'm used to it."

"Sorry," he says, and we both laugh. I walk out of the room, and tell him...

"No problem, pardner."