There IS a difference (western vs. southern)

The great state of Texas is a big place. Its cultures are as varied as its landscape (after all, landscape and geography are key factors in developing culture). You probably haven't put much thought into it but there is a difference between western culture and southern culture. Texas has both. One of my students said in passing that I was a cowboy the other day. I corrected him saying that I'm not a cowboy---I'm more southern than western and cowboys are western. Most might think that anyone who wears boots and jeans is a cowboy. Not true. Both might wear boots, but those boots have important difference (see below). Historically there is a big difference between the West and the South. The South was primarily composed of farmers while the West more composed of ranchers. The South is more influenced by Scottish and Irish styles and the West has a more Native American and Mexican influence. The climate in the West and the South calls for an all together different clothing. Just imagine the lush soil and towering pines of the South compared with the surprisingly beautiful desserts of the West. Think of it this way.

Western attire:
Shoe: Cowboy boots (in their truest form that you can slide right into stirrups)
Hat: Cowboy hats
Shirt: Western shirts (heavy cotton, button down, typically brighter colors)
Jeans: Wranglers (period)

Southern attire.
Shoe: Work boots (could have a cowboy influence, but the soles are better for keeping your footing)
Hat: Baseball cap
Shirt: T-shirt (or really any style shirt, esp. flannel, more earthy colors)
Jeans: Levi's

Keep your eyes open and I'll bet you'll start to see the difference yourself.

We have plenty of Western stores. We need more stores dedicated to Southern style.

Giving it a try.

Today I give blogging a try. This blog will not be anything profound. My goal with this blog is to simply put down my random thoughts and observations about the world. I think a lot about life and the world around me but most people really don't want to hear about it. Consider this blog my friend on the front porch of life who will sit (on a swing of course) and listen to whatever I have on my mind. Maybe a random observation about our American culture. Maybe an unusual political point. Maybe a deep religious stirring. Maybe a philosophical conundrum. Maybe a simple review of the latest movie.

I love history and maybe some day (long after I'm gone) one of my posts will help a historian with his quest to understand life in the 2000s....even if it's just 1 perspective out of 6.7 billion.