Hello Fortsters,
I'd like to share some thoughts with you about my recent boy
exchanges. I was in my hometown this past weekend for the funeral
of a friend's father. My visit coincided with the start of the
county agricultural fair, the biggest in the state and one of the
biggest in the country. It was a big deal and families were out in
force. It was a gorgeous early autumn evening and the boys were all
wearing shorts and tees. I was with my Dad who is a long time
resident of the area. He knows pretty much everyone he sees, so I
had lots of free time to boywatch. We were in line to order
something to eat at a tent run by a local seafood restaurant.
Directly in front of me were TWIN blonde haired, blue eyed boys
about ten years old. They were wearing purple sleeveless tees (not
quite wifebeaters) that showed off their well tanned arms. Fine
blonde hairs were visible on their tanned, bare legs. These two
boys were absolutely breathtaking. They had platinum blonde hair
with golden highlights and perfect smiles. They were identical
twins but had completely opposite personalities. One boy (I never
caught their names and I normally do) was shy (or perhaps well
behaved) and he stood, for the most part, beside his Dad, holding
hands. The other boy was much more adventurous. He explored
everything of interest in the general area of the waiting line. He
went off to explore the kiddie ride adjacent to the seafood tent.
His twin watched him, almost jealously, while holding Dad's hand.
The adventurous twin came closer and beckoned his brother to
explore with him. He almost went, but Dad called his wayward son
back to the line. He returned faithfully and they were both there
treating me to scenes of unforgettable beauty. The pioneer twin was
in constant motion, a poster child for hyperactivity. Looking
around, making unedited comments, digging in his crotch, whispering
to his brother, returning my smile and then watching me to figure
out what my smile was all about. Hands back to the crotch, tweaking
his foreskin most likely, definitely jerking some meat though, and
then he was off again. The people in the line next to us were
talking to my Dad and not paying attention to the moving line. The
pioneer twin walked backwards with a big smile and was suddenly in
line ahead of them. He looked back at his brother and Dad with a
wicked smile and motioned for his brother to come and join him. Dad
said not to break in line, but the trailblazer turned away and
something interesting caught his attention. He pointed excitedly at
lobsters in a tank and that was too much, the shy brother joined him.
They talked excitedly and privately as twins often do with their hands
up and fingers next to their mouths. Soon the people in front of
them had been served and it was their turn, linebreakers that they
were. They motioned frustratedly to their Dad who, seeing that the
others were still talking to my Dad, stepped forward and ordered.
The rest of the evening provided many treats of a similar nature
with boys of every stripe. The young teens usually caught my eye,
with their longish hair and the glistening sheen that coats their
adolescent faces. Like all boys that age they were focused on one
another. What I like best is the eleven and twelve year olds who
are hanging out with the 13 and 14 year olds and trying to be cool.
These boys catch my eye because they're generally so much cuter
than their mates. They tend to have longer hair and whatever
fashion statement they are making looks better on them. Their
voices haven't changed yet and puberty hasn't put their nose or
feet out of proportion with everything else. In most cases they are
experiencing their first real taste of independence, out with their
peer group and away from their parents. They are SO into the moment
and are particularly less self aware than their older friends. I
remember those magic moments, I remember feeling grown up and free
and thinking that this was what it was all about to be a teen. I
remember my older cousins at the beach, trying to impress girls.
They were in seventh and eighth grade and said to one another, I
can pass for a junior and you can pass for a sophomore. I was 12
and had no idea what they were talking about. What can I be? I
asked. They looked at me and said dismissively, you can tell them
you're a freshman. I didn't know that that was either, but I knew
it couldn't have been as cool as a junior or a sophomore...
The younger boys also held a fascination for me. The toddlers, some
in strollers, were big eyed at the sights of carnival rides and
cotton candy. By eight o'clock they were nodding off in the
strollers or being carried by their Dads. Gotta love the little
dudes.
The four, five and six year olds were whipped up into an excited
frenzy. Some so excited that they danced in place, grabbed their
weiners unconsciously or pointed in every direction. You could tell
those with active imaginations because they would talk, probably to
themselves and their attention would swing like a pendulum from the
rides, or the closest temptation, to their parents to comment or
ask for something. And in each moment you could almost see the
excited little dramas playing out in their heads. Their expressions
betrayed every nuance of happy emotion.
This afternoon I had a similar experience at a football game. It
was HOT! and the boys were out in force wearing loose clothing. The
beauty was everywhere and almost too good to be true. Everywhere I
looked there were cute boys. At every game I've ever been to, there
are always a couple of boys (sometimes it's mine) who are up and
down the stairs going from their seat to concessions or the
bathroom and back. They can't sit still! So every few minutes I was
treated to another glimpse of beauty. The best part though was a
four year old named Grady who was at his first game. He was about
three rows in front of me and had a big foam 'hand' on his right
hand. He had been listening to me and those around me yelling, 'Go
Defense!' and during a lull in the action on the field. I heard a
small little voice say, 'Go Defense!' and his foam hand shot into
the air like a salute. I thought that was classic so I yelled, 'You
go little man! Show them how to cheer!' He turned around with a
sweet smile on his face, but didn't locate me visually. He said
excitedly and a little tentatively, 'Go Defense!' And me and those
around me who had seen him cheer yelled, 'GO DEFENSE!' Seeing he had
both an audience and some power, he yelled defiantly, 'GO DEFENSE' and
by now every one in our general area responded to him, 'GO DEFENSE'!
Our defense made a good play and there was a roar and it startled
Grady. He looked around to figure out was happening. I yelled 'Do it
again Little Man!' and his Dad told him, 'Cheer Grady!' and he did and
we answered. It was great to see the happy expression on his face.
When we forced a punt everyone around Grady was patting him on the
head or giving him five. I was pleased to see boypower in action.
I thought you might appreciate the beauty I saw. It's all around you
too, all you have to do is pay attention.
Stay Safe,
Doc
NP-f31
|
|