Friday
03Jul2009
How I Became a Man
Friday, July 3, 2009 at 12:00 AM
I've got great news. I have finally become a man. I kid, I kid. Well, in part. One might say that I've never been a manly man. I didn't really play many sports as a kid, I can't really find my way around a car or any machinery for that matter, and I'm not the greatest at constructing anything. Three strikes, and you're out.
Even though I've gotten over my masculine insecurities long ago, I did have a pretty intense "manly week" last week which will boost my man cred. So I couldn't help but share these great stories.
Man Story 1: I learned how to drive a manual. As I was on the Rez last week, I didn't have many options for vehicles and had to force myself to learn how to use a stick. At first I was nervous because I wasn't sure how much I was going to embarrass myself. Then I realized that I have my motorcycle license and driving a manual can't be that much different. Turns out it's not, the footwork is just a little weird. I'm not going to lie, at first, it was a bit... awkward, but by the end of the week I was shifting like a pro. In fact, I kind of want a manual now because you can accelerate way faster than you can in an automatic. I also found that a manual does a great job of keeping your speed down as well. In order to not go over the speed limit, I didn't change gears and it kept me within the speed limit. It was like forced discipline.
Man Story 2: I learned how to drywall. One evening in the dorms a group of our students were playing a game of deathball. The game is simple. Two garbage cans on both ends of the halls and get the ball into the can, by any means whatsoever. You can imagine the hefty amount of injuries that would ensue. In an unfortunate turn of events, a student's head went through a piece of drywall. For the next 24 hours non-stop, I gathered the supplies and learned how to patch a piece of drywall. By the time it was all said and done, it looked pretty good. I was even told by one of my contractor friends I could be his mud man if things didn't work out for me.
Those are my coming of age stories, but perhaps you have some of your own? If you've got a story worth sharing, leave it in the comments below!
Even though I've gotten over my masculine insecurities long ago, I did have a pretty intense "manly week" last week which will boost my man cred. So I couldn't help but share these great stories.
Man Story 1: I learned how to drive a manual. As I was on the Rez last week, I didn't have many options for vehicles and had to force myself to learn how to use a stick. At first I was nervous because I wasn't sure how much I was going to embarrass myself. Then I realized that I have my motorcycle license and driving a manual can't be that much different. Turns out it's not, the footwork is just a little weird. I'm not going to lie, at first, it was a bit... awkward, but by the end of the week I was shifting like a pro. In fact, I kind of want a manual now because you can accelerate way faster than you can in an automatic. I also found that a manual does a great job of keeping your speed down as well. In order to not go over the speed limit, I didn't change gears and it kept me within the speed limit. It was like forced discipline.
Man Story 2: I learned how to drywall. One evening in the dorms a group of our students were playing a game of deathball. The game is simple. Two garbage cans on both ends of the halls and get the ball into the can, by any means whatsoever. You can imagine the hefty amount of injuries that would ensue. In an unfortunate turn of events, a student's head went through a piece of drywall. For the next 24 hours non-stop, I gathered the supplies and learned how to patch a piece of drywall. By the time it was all said and done, it looked pretty good. I was even told by one of my contractor friends I could be his mud man if things didn't work out for me.
Those are my coming of age stories, but perhaps you have some of your own? If you've got a story worth sharing, leave it in the comments below!
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