…the house I live in…

A journal of life pursued

What a man should know.

My daughter is getting married in less than two months.

Today is the anniversary of my marriage of thirty-four years. I believe in marriage and am happy for Allison. The journey her mother and I have enjoyed these years has been most excellent.

I will be giving a toast. I am okay with that; indeed, I am honored. I will also be dancing with my daughter, the new bride, in front of everyone. I am less than okay with that. A slow dance, arms draped, feet shuffling, is one thing in high school. But grown ups should know better. I should know better–I should know how to dance. This set me to pondering other things a man should know. I’ve made a short list below.

Ten things a man should know how to do:

  • Tie a bow tie.
  • Drive a stick shift.
  • Make a martini.
  • Build a fire.
  • Laundry.
  • Change a tire.
  • Cook a fancy dinner.
  • Listen carefully.
  • Discuss one important book

-and-

  • Dance with his daughter.
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dougbruns's avatar

Posted by:

dougbruns

With an undergraduate degree in Religion and Philosophy, complimented with graduate work in the History of Ideas, Doug has spent his life chasing some of life’s big questions. As a result he has delved deeply into wisdom traditions both ancient and modern, including the philosophical schools of Existentialism, Pragmatism, and Stoicism; he has also explored several of the Eastern traditions, principally Zen Buddhism and Taoism. Admittedly, he is no expert on anything, being a simple pilgrim.

3 responses to “What a man should know.”

  1. A Hemingway Fan Avatar
    A Hemingway Fan

    I’m glad it’s a short list because I was starting to feel grossly inadequate.

    Reply
    1. Doug Bruns Avatar
      Doug Bruns

      I am sure, Hemingway Fan, that, from what I’ve seen, you make up for it in a multitude of ways.

      Reply
  2. susan109 Avatar
    susan109

    From the female point of view, I would sacrifice the fancy dinner cooking for two other important male skills, both dealing with homeland security:

    1. Get out of bed to confront perceived intruders in the middle of the night.

    2. Remove mice/bats/cockroaches/seagulls from the inappropriate places they may have found in one’s home.

    On second thought, I forgot you have Lucy to handle those important items. But these would surely apply to non-dog-owning men.

    Good luck with the dance lessons. Why don’t you select “Louie, Louie” as your father-daughter dance music? You can just stand there and shake your bootie!

    Reply

I welcome your comments. Thanks for reading.

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