Luke Bryan and Pearls

I’m going by saying something I always assumed I wouldn’t have to explain- I am not ‘country’.   I wear pearls earrings everyday, am in a committed relationship to Essie nail polish, Audrey Hepburn and Mindy Kaling are my idols, I have a weakness for chevron. I analyze the J-Crew catalogue with the same devotion and faithfulness as some hold the bible to.

But the other day, while M was over and we were singing the “dumb-de-de-dumb, de-de-dumbde-dumb-de-daa-daaaaaa’s” of ‘Save a horse [ride a cowboy] and declaring, “Rain is a goooddd thannngggg” (completely in key, of course.) She looked up and told me that her boyfriend T had said, “Katie is way more *insert favorite swear word here* country than J.” I almost died laughing at the idea. 

When I first met T, I was in awe of his truck, and told him so. M has a massive Chevy built for a 2500 engine, with a 3500 engine. T’s truck, on the other hand is an older truck with stacks in the back.

Here at R.U, there’s a weird blend of the uber preppy, down home rednecks, and those who are a little of one or the other. I fall into the last group.

Wait.. what?! Yeah I know. It doesn’t make sense. But it does at the same time. Whenever anyone mentions summer, I’m transported to the best place on earth, Lake View, Iowa. I can instantly smell the mix of salt water, gas and just a hint of mold. I can hear the squeals of my cousins and siblings jumping into the lake, and the roar of boats and jet skis being started. Lake View is a small town 3 hours outside of Des Moines (da- moin) and 40 minutes from the next ‘big towns’, Carroll and Storm Lake.

The cabin has an always-damp astro turf floored- screened in porch, which leads to the kitchen, dining room, and living room. There’s 3 bedrooms, a bathroom, a porch and steep concrete steps that lead down to the splintered wooden dock and the boat lift, power boat, and jet skis.

 Me, Pa, Caleb and Josh, at the cabin. (note the John Deere hats.)

I’ve been out at  the old, dusty corn  cribs and been banished from ever going back to the corn fields (apparently I hated it when I was 5), I learned how to drive in our corn fields and on dirt roads, I’ve gotten pulled over by the boat patrol (you have to have a boating license to operate a jet ski if you’re under 18.), I’ve played mud volleyball at the annual water carnival- it’s possibly one of the grossest experiences ever, yet is so much fun. I’ve gone mudding, I own more “take a break at the lake” apparel than I care to admit. Same goes for John Deere. I know which Sparky’s stays open later and still lets you fill the drink cups with soft serve and charges you for a .99 cent cup. I know to ignore anything Corey Webber says. I survived the summer of the fish kill- a local farm’s run off killed off almost all the fish in Black Hawk lake, which caused the water to be tinted with a lovely deep green, foul smelling algae which only added to the beautiful sight of the fish popping out of the water and floating dead on the surface. And I’ve been frogging. Frog legs taste like chicken.

Stock Popcorn- My Pa's popcorn company! 

            I’ve been reminded that you never know how people will perceive you. And that however they do, it doesn’t matter.