One of my old buddies told me today that I needed to get a straw hat because I have officially morphed into a redneck. I didn’t think it was possible for a Japanese guy to become a real redneck but the supporting facts are pretty substantial:

-I have a John Deere tractor. It is one of my most prized possessions. When I see a John Deere lot on the side of the highway, I have to slow down and rubberneck at all the beautiful green and yellow machinery.

-I wear work boots. With shorts.

-I talk to the cows. They listen.

-I am obsessed with the weather; specifically the rain. Not only because it’s good for my tracks, it’s good for my hay!

-I can put up my own barbed or woven wire fencing. I’m not kidding. A solid H brace is a great thing and I admire mine and others’ all the time. I will stop on a dirt road to look at a really good one.

-I have considered selling all my cars…except my 3/4 ton pickup. Her name is Betsy.

-Nothing can ruin my day like seeing weeds popping up in the pasture.

-They know me by first name (and mine’s hard to say) at the local Tractor Supply store.

-I think Carhartt stuff actually looks good. Haha. That is really funny to me.

-I have started to enjoy bass fishing. This is shocking because I was a fly fisherman. Bass fishing was a lowly bastardization of fishing for simpletons who drink beer while fishing.

My neck IS red. Damn!