So you know when you're growing up people tend to ask you what your "type" is? Or they basically want to know what you're attracted to in a person? Generally you could respond with a stereotype of the jock or the hick or the sensitive guy who plays piano and wears beanies to school. Or whatever guys categorize girls into–who knows with this generation. Anyways, I never had a type until I went to school in the South after growing up in a suburb outskirt of St. Louis, Missouri. I moved to Arkansas and learned that I did have a type: country. I found me a country boy and by golly, that's the best decision I've ever made in my life (I intentionally said by golly to try and sound country, I don't talk that way). I learned that once you go country, you never go back. Now let me tell you why.
1. They have an accent.
I intentionally made this number one on my list because it's my personal favorite. There is nothing cuter than having a man with a southern accent whisper into your ear while sitting on the bed of his truck saying the words "I love you". I mean talk about being the cherry on top of your sundae. And he can sing country songs, even if he thinks he can't sing: the accent is genuine, so it sounds legitimate enough to me. The way he asks for "sweet tea" at a restaurant or calls his grandma "nana". And although it can irritate you at times, you'll probably be made fun of when you say things different from him. But it's worth those comments. You'll likely spend many conversations comparing words and bickering over which is correct.
2. They drive nice trucks.
Okay this was never something I thought I'd like about a person–well not like, it just wasn't a "requirement"–but wow. There's something about feeling like a queen when you get to sit above everyone else while in a lifted truck riding in the passenger seat while holding your man's hand. Not to mention it makes you feel all cute and little while you're in there and you have to jump out–that's likely because I'm 5'2", but that's beside the point. You know you've got a man whose got a nice truck when you can hear him arrive outside your door and when he leaves you know he's in a good mood when you can hear him enjoying the sound of the engine. And by that I mean he'll rev the engine and speed off smiling. And something that's also nice: he asks for your opinions about the truck. No decision goes unmade without your consent once you two are the real deal. Oh, not to mention: it's a truck. It can drive through mud. It can haul things. They're loud and beautiful. You can lay in the back and look at stars or eat food. The list goes on.
3. Chivalry is NOT dead.
Never in my life would I have thought that I could go on a date with a man and he'd open a door for me and ask permission to rest his elbow on my knee. I mean what? We live in a society where people blame women's clothes for the reason they're being raped and this guy just asked permission to put his elbow on my knee? I mean that is the most considerate thing anyone has ever done. Or simply opening a door for me. Or helping me into and out of his lifted truck–see above. It's nice when you have a man who is actually 100 percent a gentleman and you know was raised right.
4. They work hard.
No, actually. They insist on helping you with everything. And they're hard workers. They build everything on their own. They fix everything on their own. Shoot, I have earrings, a bracelet and a ring all handmade and he did that all from scratch. They can put things together and successfully take them apart. They grew up being taught what dedication really means. It's putting in hours working outside in that Southern heat and not complaining about it. Makes me feel lazy majority of the time, but hey, by all means, you look damn good hauling that hay (okay I've never actually seen that happen, but it was for dramatic effect.)
5. You don't have to be perfect all the time. And by perfect I mean Barbie.
You don't need Carrie Underwood legs–although wow is she gorgeous–and you don't need blonde hair and french tip nails and blue eyes and tanned skin and a contoured chin for them to be attracted to you. They like when you walk around without makeup on and your hair messy wearing boots. They like to see you get down in the mud or the grease of an engine. They like to know you can bee natural around them and not care, because chances are, they're going to look goofy when they're wearing a muscle shirt, basketball shorts, knee high mud boots and a bucket hat on walking through a salvage yard.
6. Jeans. Cowboy boots. Baseball hats.
I don't think much needs to be said about this. Pretty self explanatory. If you need some assistance in the "self explanatory" part, then see below.
7. Country music.
Okay they're not all obsessed with country music. That's not the point. The point is you can listen to any country song and it reminds you of them or any one of them that's romantic you can automatically apply to your relationship. It instantly makes the song cuter and it's more enjoyable at that point. "Then" by Brad Paisley is currently number one in my book. Not to mention you feel like you now have the right to sing these songs because you've shot a shotgun and ridden in lifted trucks. And you can practically make any song a country boy anthem. "Boys Round Here" by Blake Shelton gets me every time. I always think of my man. Oh, that reminds me that he can sing "Your Man" but Josh Turner almost to a t thanks to that deep pitch and accent. Okay, enough with the songs.
8. Camo.
First of all, camo is camouflage. If you didn't know that, why're you reading this? Just kidding–but now you know. The best part about half of his life being surrounded in camo, is you can make endless jokes about how you can't see the person. Walks into the room with a camo shirt on? "Where are you?" Bedding is covered with camo? "Where's your bed?" Truck seats are covered in camo? "Where am I supposed to sit?" I find the jokes funny and that's all that really matters. Not to mention the camo obsession makes for easy gifts.
9. They know how to shoot guns. And then teach you how to shoot said guns.
What's not totally badass about that? You have a man that know's what he's doing and then teaches you what to do. Then you can go to gun shows and kind of know what people are talking about. And you can watch videos of yourself shooting guns, and pictures, and it is so Bond. James Bond.
10. He truly puts the "gent" in "southern gent".
This is a little different from the chivalry thing earlier. What I mean by gent, is he cares genuinely for you no matter what. He has the biggest heart in the entire world and grew up being shown how women should be treated, and he treats you the same way. Chances are he's a big momma's boy, so you know women are important to him. He wants the absolute best for you in life. He pushes you to achieve your goals and pursue your dreams. He does whatever he can to make you laugh and have the best days. He's your absolute best friend and wants to show you how to shoots guns, and wants you to drive a nice car–maybe even a truck. He wants you to wear his baseball hats and put on his boots so you can look like you have clown shoes on. He's the truest kind of gentleman and he's for sure a keeper.
Kaleb, thank you for showing me how a man should treat a woman and letting me experience what it's like to feel like a princess. Thank you for grabbing tacos with me that late September night and for showing me what it's like to date a country boy. I've got you now, and I'm never letting go.
