Manliness

Apparently, manliness is not what it used to be. Let me dig up my old curmudgeon hat, yell at the kids on my lawn, and share a few thoughts.

In a recent article they were talking about how fewer and fewer of today's young men rate themselves very highly on the manliness scale. Of course, it's all in how you define what it is to be a man.

When I was growing up it was being able to stand tall, look someone in the eye and a good firm handshake. Your word was your bond. Women were treated with respect. Crying was reserved for rare occasions, like when a broken bone was poking out. A man knew his way around tools, firearms and fishing poles.

I was lucky enough to enter the Fire Service at the tender age of 18. There are few jobs today that make such good use of testosterone, strength and daring.

Of course, I wouldn't top out on the so called “manliness scale” they were using either. I'm not afraid to change a diaper or nurture children. There's nothing wrong with reading good poetry. You don't have to be all womanly to realize that a particular paint color brightens up the room. Being able to wash dishes, cook good meals, and do laundry are all useful skills for living.

Maybe some of young men's confusion about manliness is a lack of role models. I learned it from my dad. Too many young boys grow up without good male role models. Most of the dads on TV are bumbling fools.

Some poor deluded fools thing manliness is all about drinking too much and fighting. Sorry guys, having some self control is a better gage of manliness.

-Sixbears

Checkup

The other day I was trying to figure out how long it's been since my last checkup at the doctor's. I think it's been something like 16 years. There was a time about 7 or 8 years ago when I went in to get a lump dug out of my hand. It wasn't a good experience. The nurse wouldn't listen to me when I said I needed a larger sized blood pressure cuff. The regular sized cuffs give a false higher reading.

Well, the doctor did a lousy job cutting out the lump. In fact, I still have it. Then he tried to push blood pressure meds on me. Later I had my pressure checked with the correct sized cuff and my pressure was normal. You don't have to be a nurse to check blood pressure.

Ever since I had to deal with a whole series of doctors chosen by Workman's Compensation I've had a bad relationship with the profession. They weren't trying to heal me. They were trying to deny job related benefits. In fact, I didn't start to get better until the system cut me loose. Alternative treatments improved my life immensely.

Logically, I know most doctors must be trying to help people. Once in a while I've even run into a doctor or two that's been of some service to me. Too bad it's a minority. To be fair, having to deal with Workmen's Compensation doctors skewed the numbers. One doctor told me I'd be dead before I was 45. It's great to be 58.

That's the background. Last fall my father passed away. Around that time I promised my kids I'd get a checkup in the spring. Well, it's spring. I've got an appointment next month. Let's see what he has to say, besides telling me I'm fat, like I don't know. He'd better not try to push pills on me that I don't need.

-Sixbears