The switch! When hearing those words, some immediately think of changing from one thing to the next. Others may think of light switches. For me, I think about a thin branch that smacked my childhood rear end. If us boys ever got out of line, our great-grandmother would smack our rear ends with a switch.…
Boys will be Boys, part 2
While growing up, having an older brother meant that I had someone who was exposed to life’s cruel ways before I was. My guess is that life hurt him so much that he felt the need to prepare me. Therefore, he was rather hard on me, I suppose trying to toughen me up for the…
Boys will be Boys, part 1
A fond memory of my childhood was watching wrestling. Every week it when it came on, we would gather around the television and watch our favorite wrestlers get in the ring to fight it out. At my friend’s house was where the most excitement occurred. Weeks would pass that led up to some pay-per-view that…
Mr. Fix It
Most people are used to throwing away anything that breaks. Years ago, the neighboring city had regular days where people within the city limits could sit stuff out on the curb for trash pickup. Furniture, radios, and televisions were all thrown away. It is said that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. In one…
Teepee Gone Wild, part 1
It feels like if there was ever a warning to be issued with a product, it should be one issued to the parents of young boys. History is taught to them, even at early ages, sometimes with the intent on showing them not to relive the past. Among the curriculum for such history is the…
Will I Break Today
The night before a trip with my family, we stayed at a hotel in a city near the cruise port. When we got up in the morning, we went down to the dining area for the continental breakfast. My father sat at the table on a chair with four wooden legs and a piece of…
The Hope of Love
Something expectant mothers go through is the potential love that will emanate from that tiny human forming inside them. It’s truly remarkable how the creation of a human being works. Life doesn’t come with a guarantee for the child or the mother. They say a mother’s love is unique in many ways. I suppose when…
The Right Time
If you are kind to someone, you may never know the effect it has. It is possible that it may have no impact whatsoever. But to be fair, one must take into consideration that it may be the exact thing needed to help another person change direction. At these turning points, which occur at a…
Givers and Takers
We all start out with a blank slate. It is natural to take. From the moment we are conceived, we took from our father and mother. From then on, our mother supplied us with the necessary nutrition. For nine months she gives of herself. It continues even after we are born. For a long time,…
The Real To-Do List
Several people close to me have told me about their experience raising children. On one hand is how they can drive everyone nuts. However, before finishing the sentence they continue with how big of a blessing they are and how they wouldn’t change their life for anything. Still having none of my own, I do…