Today I read a great article in Men’s Health magazine and had to sound off on my own.  It was about men being the “P” word around women.  What I’d like to discuss is more specific.  What are you afraid of?

This is not a men's only article today.   

Is it wrong for any of us to be afraid of anything?    When you were young what were you afraid of? Was it the bully in your neighborhood or school?  Perhaps it was being hit by a pitched baseball, or worse yet, someone lying about you.  For me it was two out of those three. 

PRINCIPALS

I had a kid in my neighborhood named Tommy.  He was much older and he always rounded up everyone to play games or sports in the neighborhood.  I didn’t like him for being such a bully and I rebelled at every turn.  He in turn beat on me.  I recall one time in a sandlot baseball game a ball was hit by me and he snapped at me.  I felt like... "he’s not my father or brother, he can’t talk to me like that."  So I threw my mit down.  He was pissed.  Tommy ran to the outfield and punched me out. I went crying home and my father was soon at his house and boy was he pissed.  I had not one but two black eyes and a swollen cheek.  In today’s world Tommy would have been arrested.   But back then, Tommy just continued to be an ass and I remember later being assaulted by him and four others; another story never to be spoken of.  I always stood my ground ...   more »