Cowgirl Up
by,  Cheryl Harwell Bailey

One of my favorite songs of all time is "I'm A Woman," by  "Peggy Lee." 
It is an anthem, of sorts, to what we girls do everyday.
 I love the line, "I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan, .......

 Girls of yesterday, today, and from now on, can save the day,
 even if we have little or no money honey.

 Who of us could ever forget "Maria," in "The Sound of Music."
 When "Captain Von Trapp" refused to give her a cent to purchase play clothes
 for his children. She didn't pout!! 
 She got busy sewing practical Bavarian outfits for each child. 
The lovely green & white drapes from her  "Nanny" quarters, had just "enough" fabric.
 She made head scarves for the girls, with the snippets.
 Only a very gutsy nanny would test "Captain Von Trapp!"
The serious, stern, "Captain" couldn't take it, he melted,
 madly in love, at "Maria's" feet. 

And  I dare not forget the most famous "Southern Belle" of all time, 
"Katie Scarlet O'Hara," the heroine from "Gone With the Wind."

 Needing to appear undamaged by the war, she & mammy pulled down 
the very costly green silk velvet Portiere's (drapes). 
They found the patterns, and sewed a fashion forward 
"French" dress, pocketbook, and parasol. 
 Not wasting a bit, they used the gold fringe trim. 
 Notice the rooster feather plume on the top of her hat?
 Remember "Christmas" dinner?

 We all believed Scarlet, when she vowed, "as God is my witness,
 I, and my family will never go hungry again!"

 It took a mighty gutsy Southern Belle to try and put one over on savvy 
"Captain Rhett Butler!"

The Ultimate "Gutsy & Gussied Up," Girl!

Suffering hard times, brings out the best in us. 
It challenges us to buckle down,
 and find overlooked resources all around us. 
It makes us creative.
 It gives us character.
 It makes us strong.
 It refines us.
 "Jane Austen" called it "Gumption!"

And "Rhett," the ultimate super hero? He clearly fell head over heels.
 "What a woman," he said, and it wasn't just because she was beautiful.
 He loved her gutsy soul. 

Too much of a "good thing," can be a distraction, 
wasting precious time, that will never return.
 Material things cannot fill the whole in our hearts.

 Making a smoothie for an excited grandchild however, 
can fill every crannie of a grannie's heart. 
Something as simple as making "Root Beer Floats," brings such joy.

Has a shopping trip to the mall ever touched your soul? 
It may give a temporary high,
 but it's not a memory,  you and future generations will remember.
 To "Cowgirl Up," is to do that which is worthy of a gutsy girls sweet time.

Money honey, can be a blessing, or a burden. 
Just live within your means.
 If you respect money, it will respect you.
 If you don't, it won't!

Cowgirl Up!