mink@cfa.UUCP (Doug Mink) (10/11/85)
I was pondering this question in the fog on top of Mt. Adams in New Hampshire yesterday after hiking the last mile to the summit through a 30 mph wind and dense fog just because my friend and I had started out for the top and, by damn, we were going to get there. I realized that if I had been hiking with any of the women I have travelled with, she would have quite reasonably, and fairly easily, talked me into heading down. Foolhardiness makes me feel masculine, in both positive (a sense of accomplishment, if I do succeed) and negative (that WAS dumb) ways. Talking about foolhardiness makes me feel masculine, too (:-). Other masculine things: Fixing my car, or at least trying, Refusing to ask directions, relying on my all-too-often fallible sense of direction, and, conversely, Knowing my way around without having to ask for help, Not finding words or actions to communicate my feelings, Talking shop, even when it leaves half the group behind, Building things, A few feminine things: Mending clothes, Brushing my hair (it's long), Sitting around with a group of women friends and just talking, and not enough other things to make me feel balanced. -Doug Mink