Alright folks, I’m taking a poll. Not for any sort of
scientific research, but more to satisfy my ravenous curiosity.
The question is very simply… Country boys or city boys?
There is no right or wrong answer, and this is just for fun
so please don’t think I am criticizing. But as I have wracked up a few novels
and novel ideas I find that I gravitate toward a certain kind of man for my
heroes. They are all different in trait and character, of course, but in some
fundamental way they all seem like country boys at heart. Even if they are
living city boy lives. That might not make much sense. Perhaps I should give
y’all my definition of each.
You won’t find these in Webster’s. These are homegrown and
absurdly stereotypical. Just go with it.
City boy- a man who operates with a certain air of
refinement. Overtly ambitious in occupation and appearance. Charming. Slicked
back, clean shaven, smooth hands, sharp dresser. Busy.
Country boy- a man who works with his hands, outdoors, or doing
something physically active. Hardworking, honest-often brutally so. Unrefined
charm. Tousled hair, five-o’clock shadow, callused hands, t-shirt and jeans
practical. Carefree.
Some men can be a mixture, it’s not always black or white
but for the purposes here, pick which one suits your man, or your type, best.
If you are on the fence, here is a checklist that might help
you gage your tolerance for those wild country boys. Channel Jeff Foxworthy’s
skit “You might be a redneck” when you are reading these little clips from my
life with my country boy.
You might have it bad for a country boy if…
- You
find the idea of attending a tractor pull intriguing.
- Your
man suggests you attend a mouse race and you don’t run screaming in the
other direction.
- You
don’t correct him when he says he’s going to go “get a shower” instead of
“take” one.
- The
cowboy boots by your door are caked with something that may or may not be
mud and you allow them to stay there.
- You
find it cute when he drops the beginning of words like “him” and “them” so
they all sound like “eem.”
- You
don’t mind the sand-paper scraping of his scruffy, five-o’clock shadow
leaving well earned redness around your lips.
- You
have a weakness for plaid and denim in combination.
- You
find usually unsavory things like sweat and dirt particularly appealing on
his sun-bronzed skin.
- You
decide trying elk, squirrel, venison, maybe coon, and wild mushrooms would
be an exciting adventure for your delicate palette.
- You
find odd phrases like “grow a wild hair” perfectly acceptable when used in
combination with a lazy, rakish grin.
Alright ladies, what’s your preference? And what kind of
hero are you more prone to write? And anyone have anything to add to this
list?
Whether you get all swoony over your city boy or country boy,
be sure to give him some sugar today. ;)
