June 5, 2007
VIDEO BLOG HERE
In my perfect world all cowboys are just like Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain: macho, optimistic, yet lovelorn. It turns out a lot of cowboys come pretty damn close. I should know. I spent last weekend living life the cowboy way and it was yipee-kye-yi-GAY.
I went to the Gay Rodeo in San Diego and it moved me to celebrate wild west-inspired design (more on that in a moment) but first you should know I have cowboy blood coursing through my veins. I grew up in Arizona with the genuine article: my Grandfather Pop-pop. He is a true-blue singing cowboy who is WAY better than Tex Ritter or Roy Rogers ever was.
My Pop-pop is a great balladeer and brilliant songwriter and his talents made him both an unofficial singing mayor and the tour guide for the small town of Prescott, AZ. My favorite song of his is one that you'll have no trouble getting him to sing; in fact, just TRY to stop him. It's about a neighboring town that's slowly sliding down the mountain it sits on. As if that wasn't enough when my Dad remarried, he was hitched to a true-blue Rodeo Queen. Sweetheart Sonja had all the cowboy hearts a-flutter and my dad was the one who landed her. My favorite photo of her is from 1968. She's on a horse, her sash just perfect, waving to the crowd. I bonded with Sonja right away. How could I not? She was a gorgeous rodeo queen who taught me how to dress like a cowboy and ride a real horse. A flood of wonderful childhood memories came rushing back for me at the Gay Rodeo.
What I love about all the ridin' and ropin' -- aside from the tight jeans -- is the message that you need to get out there and do what you love. Just ask the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (see video). Designers who use a cowboy motif almost always succeed in bringing that across.
One designer I love is Paul Loebach, who mixes Western icons like Texas oil towers into his super modern chairs and wallpaper patterns: Check it out here.
Paul will help you go West -- even if you are in an ultra modern space.
If you don't want to hang the head of a real steer or real deer over your mantel try one of these cool wooden ones and remember: think Big Skies, Prairie Dogs, and Cowboy Hats. Throw a little Western Swagger into your living space. Just think, you can be the cowboy king, the sweetheart of the rodeo, or the rodeo clown; or be all three at once.
Like me.
Yee Haw!
Comments
Phil_in_ny wrote:
Don't we all wish?
posted on June 7, 2007 at 8:55 AM
Terry Cowdrey wrote:
Hi Bryan, you know I didn't think you could top the wonderful tribute that you wrote about our Momma-Lou, but this one about the Cowboy in your life, was very special, because it was such a nice tribute to your Pop-Pop and my Dad!! I grew up in our household, where we sang everyday, and our Dad knew so many cowboy or western songs--most of them he wrote himself! It's so wonderful to remember great times in your life when you were such a sweet little boy, and we all had such wonderful family memories. On Mother's Day week-end, in San Diego, we had our family reunion, with a surprise tribute to Momma-Lou and Pop-Pop, that was one of the nicest days of my life, and I was so glad you were there to help celebrate their lives! Thank you dear Bry for all the terrific memories I always enjoy reading about in your Blog. love, Auntie-T
posted on June 11, 2007 at 3:23 AM
Angelina Re wrote:
Okay Bryan_
So now you have me re-thinking my RSVP to our Calgary Gay Rodeo taking place June 29 - July 1. Hmmmm....I know it would be a real hoot!!
Also, I can completely relate to Terry Cowdrey's comments regarding growing up in "household, where we sang everyday"...etc. My dad was not only a HUGE music fan, but an especially loyal country fan. Our house was always filled with music and the arts in general; and I will always be grateful for being instilled with those gifts.
Thanks for sharing your precious memories and rekindling mine.
Love & Light always,
Angelina
posted on June 25, 2007 at 11:19 PM