Putting The Old In Old Vaquero

 August 10, 2023

   I have been having a hoot on my quest to capture the "Old Vaquero," for my Old Vaquero Sayings book project with the boys down at Cattletrack Arts Compound. 

The Cattletrack Crew: Brent and Mark

   The  original concept was spawned many moons ago when I couldn't find the verification for who said a certain quote and since my only means of finding out was phoning the Phoenix Public Library Reference Desk (this is pre-internet), and when they came up empty-handed I used the made up moniker of Old Vaquero Saying to put a bandaid on the problem.

   If you read True West magazine, or this blog, you know it has since evolved into its own reality and universe.

   Of course the term Old Vaquero Saying could mean young vaqueros using these quotes. In fact, it wasn't originally intended to be uttered by a literally old vaquero. But, things have a way of progressing and evolving and where once there was a typical vaquero, or even a dead vaquero:

Daily Scratchboard Whip Out:

"Day of The Dead Old Vaquero"

      Or, even a vaquero in pain:

Daily Whip Out:

"Ay-chi-huero! One Vaquero In Pain"

   Or, come to think of it, vaqueros of every age and ethnicity:

Daily Scratchboard Whip Outs:

"Vaqueros Galore"

   But somehow I kept coming back to the Old Vaquero, as a senior—señor—citizen.

Daily Whip Out: "El Señor Citizen"

   That said, what if he was really, really old but still formidable? Still a badass?

Daily Scratchboard Whip Out:

"El Viejo Vaquero de Badass"

      Hmmmmm, Danny Trejo, anyone?

"Never give a sword to a man who can't dance."

—Old Vaquero Saying