Cowboys

What is it about the Wild West that every red blooded American male loves? I'm currently reading Dee Brown's "The American West" and let me tell you there is something about the mythologized West that is quite appealing. Two years ago I was fortunate enough to visit the "Land of the Mormons" otherwise known as Utah. It was one of the best vacations I have ever had. The open sky, contrasting landscape, views that go on forever...all this came back to me reading Brown's book. Like a Billy Crystal character (the movie "City Slickers" comes to mind) I feel the pull from the romance (read that totaly bogus myth) of the Cowboy and the "Old West".

I've come to the conclusion that one of the reasons that I like American History best is that I can actually visit some of the places I read about (read that its cheaper and easier than travelling the world). Tombstone is one place I'd like to visit someday. Same with Little Big Horn...and a host of other places I've read about. But for now, I'll read, and dream, and virtually travel via Google.