Just can't seem to sleep tonight so I thought I would share one of my many writings. I suppose the reason I am as open as I am is this. Perhaps someone is going through a struggle that I have been through and they are riding on the fence, meaning they don't know which way to get off. I see so many people riding the fence today. They are afraid to take a stand, speak their mind, stand up for what they truly believe in and instead, give into the political correctness, which in my opinion, has spread through society like the cancer in my body. If what I am going through can help someone, then all that I am going through will not be in vain. I have taken so much in my life and just wish to give back somehow. It makes me feel good to help someone, as I am sure it does to everyone.
Being a Cowboy and the Code of the West
Quite often I find myself reflecting upon my colorful existence. Of all the experiences I’ve either witnessed or have been directly involved in, it’s the lifestyle of a cowboy which I favor greatly. It’s the rectitude of this standard of living that has always appealed to me. The foundation of this lifestyle is an unbending set of principles which have been adhered to ever since the taming of the west began. These values of which a cowboy tries to abide and stand for are not written in a book or etched in stone. They were laid down by hardened men and women who settled a wild frontier with an intrepid attitude; audacious and valiant in their quest for a better way of life. Their blood, sweat and tears serve as the mortar on which the cornerstones of this great frontier were laid. Unfortunately, it’s a way of life that now appears to be evaporating as swiftly as a rain puddle under a scorching Mojave sun.
In 1934, western storyteller, Zane Grey, wrote a novel entitled Code of the West although there never was an actual code written. Instead, this code or way of life was merely unwritten rules that people lived by. When the first settlers came out west, there were no laws, no sheriff or jails. People had no one to answer to and so they lived according to their own creed. I always thought it was best put by John Wayne who said, “A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by, no matter his job.” Without a code to live by there would be nothing but anarchy. The Code of the West seems to be vanishing like the great herds of buffalo that once roamed the vast prairies of the Dakota’s. However, despite the moral decay of society today, with its corruption, greed and disregard for human life and property, there is one facet of society that hasn’t sold out, the American cowboy.
A real cowboy is and will always be a symbol of toughness and resilience. Just as the wild mustang, the cowboy will survive the harshest of times and his durability will see him through the cold night to witness the rising of the morning sun. There hasn’t been a more influencing group of people in this great nation over the past two hundred years than the American cowboy. There is something that’s stirred deep within people when they see a cowboy on a horse either riding a herd of cattle or bucking out of chute at a local rodeo. America has always had a love affair with the American cowboy and just like a young man watching the Lone Ranger or his father watching the Cartwright’s on Bonanza, they’ve all fantasized about being a cowboy. Show me a man who says he hasn’t and I will show you a liar. Cowboys have always lived their lives according to the Code of the West.
As written in the song by Ed Bruce, Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys, the lyrics depict the simplicity of the cowboy way of life.
“Cowboys like smoky old pool rooms and clear mountain mornings
Little warm puppies, and children and girls of the night,
Them that don’t know him won’t like him and them that do sometimes won’t know how to take him,
He ain’t wrong, he’s just different but his pride won’t let him do things that make you think he’s right.”
There’s a definite hardness about a cowboy that sets him apart from others. He has enough pride for ten men, can be as stubborn as a Jenny, and doesn’t like to be told what to do. More times than not he’s reserved with his thoughts and doesn’t mince his words. He looks you square in the eye when shaking hands and when you do shake his hand you better squeeze or you may come away with some bruised bones. He keeps his friends close and his enemies closer. If you look close enough you will see his stories through the calluses on his hands and the wrinkles on his face. Cowboys carry a broken heart and though they are as loose as ashes in the wind, they long to be held by someone special. I always said I wanted to either die in the arms of a woman or under the hooves of a bull. Still do! My uncle Pudge, who has long since passed away, taught me the value of shaking a man’s hand and looking him in the eye, a lesson I have never forgot. If a man, or a woman for that matter, can’t look you in the eye while giving you a firm handshake, walk away from them for they are not to be trusted and have something to hide. It is my belief that if you live your life according to the Code of the West, you’ll have lived a good life and will be able to meet your maker with your head held high.
This is the Code of the West as written by Zane Grey.
Live each day with courage
Take pride in your work
Always finish what you start
Do what has to be done
Be tough, but fair
When you make a promise, keep it
Ride for the brand
Talk less and say more
Remember that some things aren’t for sale
Know where to draw the line.
I have found a few more principles that should be included;
Don't inquire into a person's past. Take the measure of a man for what he is today.
Never steal another man's horse. A horse thief pays with his life.
Defend yourself whenever necessary.
Look out for your own.
Remove your guns before sitting at the dining table.
Never order anything weaker than whiskey.
Don't make a threat without expecting dire consequences.
Never pass anyone on the trail without saying "Howdy".
When approaching someone from behind, give a loud greeting before you get within shooting range.
Don't wave at a man on a horse, as it might spook the horse. A nod is the proper greeting.
After you pass someone on the trail, don't look back at him. It implies you don't trust him.
Riding another man's horse without his permission is nearly as bad as making love to his wife. Never even bother another man's horse.
Always fill your whiskey glass to the brim.
A cowboy doesn't talk much; he saves his breath for breathing.
No matter how weary and hungry you are after a long day in the saddle, always tend to your horse's needs before your own, and get your horse some feed before you eat.
Cuss all you want, but only around men, horses and cows.
Complain about the cooking and you become the cook.
Always drink your whiskey with your gun hand, to show your friendly intentions.
Do not practice ingratitude.
A cowboy is pleasant even when out of sorts. Complaining is what quitters do, and cowboys hate quitters.
Always be courageous. Cowards aren't tolerated in any outfit worth its salt.
A cowboy always helps someone in need, even a stranger or an enemy.
Never try on another man's hat.
Be hospitable to strangers. Anyone who wanders in, including an enemy, is welcome at the dinner table. The same was true for riders who joined cowboys on the range.
Give your enemy a fighting chance.
Never wake another man by shaking or touching him, as he might wake suddenly and shoot you.
Real cowboys are modest. A braggert who is "all gurgle and no guts" is not tolerated.
Be there for a friend when he needs you.
Drinking on duty is grounds for instant dismissal and blacklisting.
A cowboy is loyal to his "brand," to his friends, and those he rides with.
Always fill your whiskey glass to the brim.
Never shoot an unarmed or unwarned enemy. This was also known as "the rattlesnake code": always warn before you strike. However, if a man was being stalked, this could be ignored.
Never shoot a woman no matter what.
Consideration for others is central to the code, such as: Don't stir up dust around the chuckwagon, don't wake up the wrong man for herd duty, etc.
Respect the land and the environment by not smoking in hazardous fire areas, disfiguring rocks, trees, or other natural areas.
Honesty is absolute - your word is your bond, a handshake is more binding than a contract.
Live by the Golden Rule.
Being a cowboy isn’t easy. I suppose that is why there are few left. None of us are perfect and we have all broken our own creeds at one time or another. This doesn’t mean you aren’t good or that you can’t change. Any cowboy worth his salt will get bucked off from time to time. The good ones learn from their mistakes, dust themselves off and get back on. I am proud to be a cowboy and I wear my hat with pride.
