So here I am, a Minnesotan/Missourian raised to be a southern lady placed in Texas. I am the only member on both sides of my family born north of the Mason-Dixon line. This has made me the yankee of the family which I have always despised. So of course when it came time to choose where I wanted to go to college very few northern schools got my attention. I always knew I wanted to go live in the south where my family is from and where I've always felt at home.
My roommate teases me for the random southern things I've never heard of. The fact that I didn't understand some joke about people loving cows more than other people, learning that tank means pond and limb means branch and other fun very decorative phrases that I have always loved about southern language.
This last weekend we went to this southern/cowboy/texan store that was just totally beyond anything I have ever experienced. I know about southern things and I know my mama had horses growin up, my granddaddy was a southern baptist pastor, my great uncle truman was a cowboy, and the list goes on of family members who would have totally understood this place. Nonetheless I walked into Cavendar's boot shop and was totally fascinated by everything. I ran to the boots section (I'm sure seeiming way too excited to every southern-born person in the store)and pointed to one with flowers all over it and my roommate laughed and says, "yes now look at how much that one costs." Following orders I read the $400 price tag with dismay. I turned to her and asked her to show me less expensive ones and soon I was at gazing walls upon walls of beautiful boots (I love shoes, and boots are the diamond of shoes to me so this was just magnificent). I spent probably 20 minutes trying on boots with the assistance of Haley who explained that the letters next to the shoe size corresponded with the width, the pointy toe boots are not as comfy and make your toes grow together, and that its better for the boots to fit tight because they will shape to your feet and be loose after breaking them in. Ended up I chose a pair of boots that Haley actually owns. Roommates. Guess ya kinda rub off on each other.
I love my first pair of real cowboy boots. It makes me feel like I belong here in some strange, slightly superficial way. But it also makes me feel connected to my family in Texas, and my Papaw whom I never met but I know is proud I am attending Baylor, where he attended medical school many years ago.
I sent a picture to my best friend, Christina, who is currently at UCLA of me in my new kicks the night I bought them. Her reply, "I knew you'd be converted! But they're cute!"
I sent a picture to my best friend, Christina, who is currently at UCLA of me in my new kicks the night I bought them. Her reply, "I knew you'd be converted! But they're cute!"
