Men's Group

Historically, as baby factories.

When that guy stood up today and paused in pain, he did so knowing nobody was going to rush to his aid. Why? Because he's a big strong guy.

I guess what made me notice was the fact that he parked his jeep so that the reflected sun from the windshield was shining on me. I barely noticed it, but he asked me from the other booth if the reflection bothered me and he would be glad to move it. Here was someone who could easily break me in half, but I've never had anybody offer to move their car in the parking lot for my convenience. And I've worked enough construction to know that when he hits that jobsite, he won't expect anybody to help him if they aren't on his crew, and maybe not then. I'd bet a hundred bucks he doesn't even have health care.

I have a friend who used to be a DI in the 82nd. 'Bout six three two forty. He used to jump out of airplanes with an M60 and kick box for his regiment. I've free sparred with him and that right foot feels like you're getting hit with a fucking tree trunk. He can say with all candor that he really does know about seven different ways to break your neck. You'd be surprised how hard he works to use "small" body language. There are no large gestures or loud vocalizations. He has an MFA and an MA in Art Therapy. And if you get enough beer in him, he will tell you about his time in Iraq and about the soldier stuff he had to do. It still weighs on him.

I don't know if there was an exact point here. Maybe just that we all suffer from the perceptions of others that are designed more for their benefit than for understanding us.