Let me tell you: some people bungee jump or play with tarantulas to feel alive, but I once ended up in a three-hour poker game with a retired rodeo clown for a story. And believe it or not, that wasn’t even the weirdest part. When you’re a writer chasing those elusive nuggets of human truth, you inevitably find yourself in some…unusual situations. But let me back up and give you the context, because this story deserves center stage.

The Pitch That Changed Everything

A few years ago, my editor came to me with a wild idea: “What’s the craziest thing someone’s ever done to prove their love?” My job? Find and interview people with the most outrageous romantic gestures. It sounded simple enough. I envisioned quirky anecdotes and charming stories about flash mobs or banner-pulling planes. Oh, sweet summer child that I was.

Little did I know, this would lead me to ride shotgun with a man named Bubba (real name, by the way) as he taught me how to wrangle cattle, all in the name of chasing down the story of how he won his wife back. Spoiler? It involved rope, a lot of apologies, and what I can only describe as a budget version of the PBR rodeo circuit. But again, we’ll get there.

The Call That Set Things in Motion

When Bubba called me about the story, I was already skeptical. “I did something real dumb for my woman,” he opened with a thick Southern twang, before immediately promising, “But it’s one hell of a story.”

Here’s an important lesson for anyone who finds themselves interviewing colorful strangers: when they say “real dumb,” they mean real dumb. But my curiosity got the best of me, because nothing inspires a writer more than those first few tantalizing crumbs of chaos. I agreed to meet him at his “office,” which turned out to be the back table of a local barbeque spot off the highway, the air thick with mesquite smoke and potential regret.

Love, Ropes, and Raging Bulls

Over brisket plates and ice-cold sweet tea, Bubba spilled everything: After a “disagreement” (his word, not mine) led to his girlfriend storming off to her sister’s place, he’d decided no bouquet or apology letter would do. Bubba, bless his enthusiastic but misdirected soul, concocted a plan to win her heart back by learning to lasso a literal bull—a symbol of strength, he said. “A man’s gotta show he can wrangle life’s challenges,” he explained, chest puffed out like a romance novel cowboy.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: no woman asked for this. And you’d be right. But apparently, his girlfriend’s dad had a prized bull she adored, and Bubba figured that proving his prowess alongside the beast might land him back in her good graces.

Naturally, this meant signing up for lessons. And Bubba, ever the Southern charmer, asked if I wanted “in on the action.” I can’t explain what possessed me to agree—maybe it was the challenge, maybe it was the lingering influence of all those inspirational Beyoncé anthems I’d binged that week. Either way, the next thing I knew, I was standing knee-deep in cow muck with a borrowed hat and an overwhelming sense of what-am-I-doing-here dread.

Rodeo Lessons (or, How Not to Impress Someone)

Let me paint you a picture: me, a city-dwelling, bookish kind of guy who prefers the quiet hum of a Houston café to, say, a field full of unpredictable livestock, trying to learn how to twirl a lasso. Spoiler alert: I was terrible. My hands were slick with sweat (and other, uh, agricultural substances), and every time I tried to throw the rope, I missed by a mile. Meanwhile, Bubba was a natural, hollering things like, “Just channel the bull’s spirit!” At one point, I got so tangled up in the rope that I tripped into a water trough. Humiliating? Yes. But excellent story fodder? Absolutely.

The pièce de résistance came when Bubba, self-appointed executor of dramatic romantic gestures, actually saddled up and attempted to lasso the bull. If you’ve never seen a grown man get dragged ten yards across a pasture by a disgruntled animal—well, it’s a sight you don’t forget. To his credit, the bull eventually did calm down, and Bubba emerged with all his limbs intact, waving triumphantly like he’d just been elected mayor of Lasso Town.

The Aftermath—and the Lesson

So, you’re probably wondering: did it work? Did rodeoing his way into her heart seal the deal? Well, sort of. Bubba’s girlfriend was so amused by the audacity of it all that she begrudgingly forgave him. But not before making sure he knew that the whole bull thing was entirely unnecessary. “You could’ve just brought me some peach cobbler and said sorry,” she told him. And honestly? She’s not wrong.

As for me, well, I learned a thing or two about the lengths people will go for love—and what not to do when trying to impress someone.

Takeaway Time: Lessons from an Accidental Cowboy

So, what can the Bubba saga teach us about relationships? A couple of things, actually:

  • Grand gestures are cool, but sincerity is better. You don’t need to risk your life or dignity to prove your love (thankfully). A heartfelt apology and meaningful actions go a long way.
  • Know your audience. Before planning an over-the-top stunt, ask yourself: will my partner actually appreciate this? If the answer is “no,” you might want to rethink it.
  • Take the risk, but keep it real. Putting yourself out there is romantic, yes. But remember—it’s not about flashy moments; it’s about connection, respect, and genuine effort.

In hindsight, would I do it again? Absolutely. Not because I love being humiliated in front of farm animals, but because chasing stories—and weird adventures—is what keeps life interesting. That, and it taught me one of life’s greatest truths: sometimes the best way to win someone over is simply to show up, be vulnerable, and maybe skip involving livestock altogether.

So, the next time you’re tempted to go full-on Bubba, consider this: maybe all you need is an honest conversation…and some peach cobbler.