The Cowboy Way

My father is fond of a phrase: "That would be the easy way, but it wouldn't be the cowboy way." And while it sounds a little nonsensical, you have to understand that my dad grew up watching Roy Rogers on TV. And Roy Rogers could always be counted on. Dad is no cowboy - he's lived in the suburbs his whole life - but he's always been responsible. He's the one who planned family camping trips perfectly, the one who worked 50-60 hour weeks for years when my brother and I were little and my mom wasn't working. He's the one who helped his aging mother with bills, legal forms, and hospital visits. He's always advised me not to take the easy way out, and to this day, when I feel like cutting corners or giving up on something, I hear, "That would be the easy way, but it wouldn't be the cowboy way.