I AM MAN! Rrrawwrr!

As I get older I expect to become a more grizzled and rugged man.  I'd like to have swagger like John Wayne or leathery skin like Clint Eastwood.  Believe it or not, I wasn't born Super Manly.  It's been something I've been working on for some time.  I suppose I can brag about being born in the front seat of a GMC Pickup truck (true).  Or being shot in the back with a bow & arrow (true).  Or being hunted down in the woods by a blood thirsty bear (not true).  I've spent time outdoors hunting, hiking, camping, and canoeing (true).

I still have that shirt from this picture...and the bears head on a necklace as a reminder.

I'd like to take a solo kayak trip through the Boundry Waters, hike for days down an untouched trail, or build something out of stone with my bare hands.  Turns out I get bored (and weird) if I spend too much time by myself and I didn't pay any attention during shop class. 

My idea of being a man has changed a lot over the past couple of years.  Instead o being a tough-ass wise cracking anti-hero like Bruce Willis (in any movie featuring Bruce Willis).  I look up to my friends with kids, jobs, and a wife that they adore.  One of my friends just celebrated the birth of his fourth child.  He absolutley loves his wife and they communicate well.  I look up to him.  He doesn't walk with swagger like The Duke (that might not be swagger, it might be sore ass from riding horses).  He doesn't have leathery tough skin like Clint Eastwood (i guess i don't really want a face that looks/feels like a catchers mitt).  He looks and acts like a great dad and husband.  He can even sew and probably can cook.  I'm pretty sure he wears dockers khaki's on the weekend.  I've got other friends that have suffered through divorce, death and financial hardship.  They worked through it, they didn't give up.

I know I get a little sentimental because my wife and son are 6 hours away right now but I'd feel the same either way.  I try my best to spend as much time with my son.  Someday he'll be old enough to believe his dad isn't super cool and fun (he'll be wrong).  I attempt to communicate with my wife.  I sometimes forget that I'm blown away by how funny and sensible she is.  For those of you that don't know, she has a great sense of humor (she has to with my son & I). 

My favorite adventure!

Here's to the dad's that stick by their family!  We're taking a way better adventure than the guys in the action movies.  I now pronounce you manly!

This actually happened to me and Karen.  Good thing the photographer from Mans Life was there.

Also, if you wear khakis on the weekend you look extra manly if the above magazine cover should happen to you! 

ps.  that's going to be our Christmas card next year.