Well, when I first met my wife, she was wearing the old "pointed" type cowboy boots and basically knew nothing about the sport of rodeo. At the time, on weekends, I was involved with professional rodeo. I was wearing, like a lot of ropers I knew, "Roper" style boots (low heel and rounded front). These boots were specifically made for both Team Ropers and Tie-Down Ropers b/c they fit so well into the stirrup of the saddle. I showed my wife the style of boot I was wearing and told her that she'd look "really cool" in a pair of them. She liked mine, so we headed to a Western store and I bought her a pair of black Roper boots. As I thought, she looked great in them. After a few months, we both bought a pair of Ariat Lace-Up Roper boots. We both looked good in them as well.
I took her to many rodeo's, after we first met, and she learned about each event and the "rodeo lingo" that was used. She was very thankful towards me for doing this, but not so much her mom. Her mom said "why can't these guys just accept her for the way she is"? Her mom just couldn't understand why she had to learn about the different events and the "lingo". I told her mom, "I know these guys and they will think she is just some "Buckle Bunny" directly from a nightclub." Well, she was at one time, but not anymore.
She wanted to be a part of rodeo and I helped her be just that.
How did she change me? She helped me stop using/"dipping" Skoal. It didn't bother her that I used the stuff, but as time went on, we both knew that I needed to stop. She helped me to learn to say "please" and "thank you" more.