This week at the Fords: Already the beginning of the second month of the new year is here. January came and went in a whirlwind. I have a second chance at starting all my new year's resolutions. I enjoy the beginnings of weeks, beginnings of months, beginnings of seasons, and beginnings of years (something my mom passed on to me since the beginning of time). What I have found as I get older, though, is that these beginnings, in the beginning, are less eventful because they seem to come at me faster and faster from the beginning. Well, the beginning of last week was much like the beginning of the week before, only last week was the last week of January. The beginning of this week will be better because it is the beginning of February, which is not the beginning of the year but still a beginning of a month!
Annoyance of the Week: I have a really weird rash on my back. At first I thought it might be shingles or hives. I still am not sure what it is. A friend of mine (Dr. Means) thought it might be a skin infection of some sort. Now, not only do I have a rash, but I have a family that will not touch me!
Words of the Week; "Aga. " That sure sounds a lot like Erika to me. I would guess that Monika hears me say the name " Erika " more than any other, perhaps next to " Jessika. " When I now call out for Erika, I hear a chorus coming from my personal cheering section in life. Not only will Jessi yell after me, "Araga, " but Monika also has begun to cry out!
JIM'S CORNER
" Violent Femme "
The other night, as I am wont to do, I curled up in bed to a fine selection from my library of feminist literature, always seeking to better myself and
smooth off my rough masculine edges. I came across this passage in Linda Schierse Leonard's brilliant book, Meeting the Madwoman: An Inner Challenge for Feminine Spirit, Breaking Through Fear and Destructive Patterns to a Balanced and Creative Life: "
Men, too, need to befriend their inner Madwoman, their own disowned and rejected feminine self, so they can reel in their negative attitudes toward women, have access to the feminine creative energy within themselves, and relate to women in a mature way. "
I resolved then and there to face my inner Madwoman, to confront my fears and lead a normal, productive life. I searched high and low for this
evasive choleric feminine within. When I found her she was pretty peeved. She said to me: " Jim, you have rejected me, your feminine self. Don't make me resort to fisticuffs, " she threatened. When she became more angry after I suggested she might let her hair down, I said: " Okay, I tell you what. I'll watch some movie about a dying cancer patient and cry my heart out but I won't become a feminist activist. " She responded: " Okay. I guess that's a start Care for a mint? ".
We walked away inner - hand in inner - hand. Since then I have related to women in a mature fashion and do volunteer work at the MWM (Mad - Women Men) center.
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