'We're Not Hillbillies, We're Hillwilliams Because We Have Class"

When I was little my father used to tell me, "Your grandmother used to say, 'We're not hillbillies, we're hillwilliams because we have class".  I think that it perfectly describes me, part hick and part yuppie, a little bit country and a little bit city, a sophisticated redneck, a combination of everything good in life.

My little bit of country:

I live in Frederick, MD, the ultimate little bit country, little bit city town (but more country, after all it has earned the nickname of Fredneck).  Frederick sits on the outskirts of DC, it's the last 'big' town before you hit the true country of western Maryland and middle of no where Pennsylvania.  I find that alot of people around here have a duality of both cultures, during the week they are hard working professionals in DC, the empitome of everything city and international, but during the weekend they let loose and the country in them comes out, they work hard outdoors, throw backyard BBQs and enjoy the beautiful countryside. 

So, what makes me a little bit country?  My husbands' parents own a horse farm and on the evenings and weekends I am found there mucking out stalls, riding my horses, feeding the horses and doing all the other fun chores that come with owning horses.  I find that being outdoors on the farm, watching the horses graze and run around and working hard to make sure they are happy and healthy is what truly makes me country, my love of the outdoors and animals and the desire to build a connection to them both.  My husband and I hope to own a horse farm one day, and I look forward to getting up early mornings to feed and do chores.  The primary purpose of our horses is to play polocrosse, which the people who play it kindly refer to it as 'the poor man's polo'.  This is where I meet a lot of country folk from all over the country, and let me tell you they love to party!  Bonfires, moonshine (yes!), tons of Bud and Bud Light, pick up trucks, and country music, I know it sounds stereotypical but sometimes life is!  There really is nothing better than being out in the middle of a field, with no technology around you (I leave my cellphone in my car), sitting on a tailgate, with a Bud Light Lime and talking to these amazing people.  The one thing I love about all these people is that they are so nice and the pace of life is so slow and relaxed.  It's waving and saying hi to strangers on the street, saying please and thank you, people who live in the country take time to care about others.

My little bit of city:

My old city friends say I have gone all country now, which is true (not that I wasn't a bit country when they knew me, they just didn't notice).  But I still am a little bit city!  I am a foodie for sure, I enjoy nice upscale resaurants that serve fancy dishes with names I can't even pronounce.  I love a good wine and a good wine tasting (although, where is all the wine made, in the country! Which is a bonus for me, don't have to drive as far)!  My job has me travelling in Europe during the summers, enjoying the cultures, sights and food.  I still occassionally get involved in some ballroom dancing events, where I literally exchange my cowboy boots, jeans and tank tops for evening gowns, heels, glitter and fake tanner.  And as much as I enjoy the outdoors bonfire parties I attend, when I throw a party it tends to be more of the Martha Stewart dinner party type.  I am also I high strung perfectionist, who feels the need to clean my whole house whenever my husband mentions that someone might be coming over.  When I first started riding, my entire family laughed at me, miss little perfect girlie girlie, ballerina/ballroom dancer, non-outdoors person (I chose the indoor chores growing up) was going to go to a farm and walk around in the mud and muck out horse poo?!  Well, yes I did, thank you!

Now, I am not saying either is better, and I am not judging those who are one or the other, but both have awesome qualities and I find a bit of both is best!  I think people do judge one another to harshly, when I walk into a nice upscale restaurant in NYC in my cowboy boots, jeans and a ponytail, I get werid looks like they are thinking 'she does not belong here'.  Why don't I belong there! I enjoy the good food you offer and just because I don't wear high heels and Gucci does not mean I don't belong there.  Same goes when I walk into the local tack shop in my coach shoes and a sundress, they think the same but it doesn't mean I don't belong there.