My grandfather made bolo ties by hand.
There wasn't much to them.
A length of braided leather.
Two metal tips.
A stone or piece of silver held at the throat.
That was enough.
A bolo tie is an unusual thing because it is both ornament and restraint. It dresses a man without decorating him much.
You don't need to know how to tie it.
You don't need a collection of them.
You don't need to wonder whether it matches.
You slide it up.
You slide it down.
Some men find a way of dressing and stay there.
The same boots.
The same belt.
The same old hat hanging by the door.
Not because they have given up thinking about such things.
Because they have already decided.
My grandfather could have bought a tie.
Instead, he made one.