Wednesday, February 28, 2018

The Gay Caballeros / Los Caballeros Gay

La versión español está después de la versión inglés.

I HAD TO move to Spain to learn that "caballero" doesn't actually mean "cowboy" but instead means gentleman. A vaquero is a cowboy (and vaqueros are also jeans). "The Gay Caballero" is the name of an American song from 1929 and two American films (from 1932 and 1940). I have a cousin (in-law) who I'm told used to refer to me (with love) as his favorite gay caballero. I don't know if he meant cowboy or gentleman, but I'm pretty sure he had one of those old movies in mind.

When San Geraldo and I first moved to San Diego, we had the misguided idea to join the San Diego Gay Rodeo Association. Actually, we were convinced to do so by a new acquaintance. It seemed to me like a good idea until I attended the San Diego Gay Rodeo and saw how they treated the animals. At least I got a stylish cowboy hat, a cowboy belt (San Geraldo's had a sterling silver buckle) and a pair of expensive Lucchese cowboy boots. Remind me to tell you one of these days about our country line-dancing lessons. Slow. Slow. Quick. Quick.

TUVE QUE MUDARME a España para aprender que "caballero" en realidad no significa "vaquero". "The Gay Caballero" es el nombre de una canción estadounidense de 1929 y dos peliculas estadounidenses (de 1932 y 1940). Tengo un primo que, según me dijeron, solía referirse a mí (con amor) como su caballero gay favorito. No sé si se refería a vaquero o, de hecho, se refería a caballero, pero estoy bastante seguro de que tenía una de esas películas antiguas en mente.

Cuando San Geraldo y yo nos mudamos a San Diego, tuvimos la idea equivocada de unirnos a la Asociación de Rodeo Gay de San Diego. En realidad, nos convenció que lo hiciéramos por un nuevo conocido. Me pareció una buena idea hasta que asistí a San Diego Gay Rodeo y vi cómo trataban a los animales. Al menos obtuve un elegante sombrero de vaquero, un cinturón de vaquero (San Geraldo tenía un cinturón con una hebilla de plata) y un par de costosas botas de vaquero de Lucchese. Recuérdame decirte uno de estos días de nuestras lecciones de baile en línea. Lento. Lento. Rápido. Rápido.

AT THE RODEO, 1994.
EN EL RODEO, 1994.
THE LUCCHESE BOOTS. (TOO SMALL NOW, BUT I CAN'T PART WITH THEM.)
LAS BOTAS DE LUCCHESE. (DEMASIADO PEQUEÑO AHORA PERO NO PUEDO DECIR ADIOS.)
SAN GERALDO, A SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA COWBOY, IN THE 1950s.
SAN GERALDO, UN VAQUERO DE SIOUX FALLS EN DAKOTA DEL SUR, EN LOS AÑOS 50.
ME, A NORTH MASSAPEQUA, LONG ISLAND COWBOY, IN THE 1950s.
YO, UN VAQUERO DE NORTH MASSAPEQUA EN LONG ISLAND, EN LOS AÑOS 50.

Of course, a drag queen is a cowboy's best friend.
Por supuesto, una drag queen es la mejor amiga de un vaquero.

20 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. anne marie:
      And I've never been on a horse or bull ... well, come to think of it.

      Delete
  2. The bulls are kind of hard on the cowboys also. I was expecting to see a picture of you on the back of a bull, not relaxing in the stands.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Travel:
      The cowboys deserve whatever they get from those bulls.

      Delete
  3. What cute little cowboys you two were! That video is awesome!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Deedles:
      I can't believe that photo was taken 24 years ago! I thought I was so old!

      Delete
  4. Well, aren't you two just a real pair of buckaroos!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hilarious! I can't imagine you going a rodeo association though, images of you on a bucking bronco...thanks for the funny :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheapchick:
      We went to one Rodeo and I was appalled at the treatment of the animals (and their condition). There was even a competition to put tidy whiteys on goats. The poor animals just laid down in exhaustion. I immediately retired my cowboy hat.

      Delete
  6. Love your boots!
    Size?
    Just kidding!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ron:
      They're only a 10. Ostrich belly. Gorgeous. Could use resoling. Other than that, gorgeous!

      Delete
  7. You two were rockin' those hats! Somewhere, there is a photo of me at 2 years of age in my cowgirl outfit complete with pistols standing in my Mexican leather chair. Hope I still have it (the photo).

    ReplyDelete
  8. I can imagine the animals aren't treated very well at those places. That's why I never attend any rodeos, though there aren't many around here. Bull fighting in general is pretty barbaric

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adam:
      I agree with you 100 percent. So sorry I ever gave money to that association.

      Delete
  9. Happy trails to both of you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kirk:
      And to think when I was a kid I loved Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. "Who cares about the clouds when we're together? Just sing a song, and bring the sunny weather... Until we meet again."

      Delete

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