A Dude’s Guide

Sure, some parents treat their little girls like princesses. I understand that. The little dudettes are quite cute and can wrap someone around their little finger. Just ask my niece, who gets anything she wants from her uncle. But here’s a case of — maybe — taking it just a bit too far.

Hindu and Buddhist priests have annointed Matani Shakya, a 3-year-old Nepalese girl, as the living incarnation of the powerful Hindu deity Taleju. This is a centuries-old tradition that has long-standing ties to the monarchy of Nepal. Matani was carried from her parents’ house to an ancient temple. She’ll live there until she reaches puberty, at which point she’ll lose her divine status and go back to being just an ordinary girl.

Dude, what a come down.

Seriously, try to imagine it. You’re a god for just about 10 years. The literal living embodiment of someone worshiped throughout your homeland. Then, one day, you get your first period (go with me here, dudes) and you’re out on the street, back to living with your parents and being just a normal, everyday dudette. That must be brutal, especially watching the priests annoint another child as divine in your place.

I’m just glad that sort of thing never happened to me (and, yes, I’m including the whole period thing.). I’m pretty sure that my prepubescent mind would have come up with some rather. . . disturbing. . .  divine commands for my worshipers to endure. I’d like to think I would have been benevolant, but I’m pretty sure I would have been the burning-fire-from-the-heavens type.

– Richard

I think it’s pretty important that we, as parents, act like kids every once in a while. And I’m not just saying that so my wife, known to some as She Who Says That’s Not Funny, will let me off the hook for what happened last Sunday morning. (And, no, I’ll not be talking about that. The gag order is part of the court settlement.)

Over the years, I’ve seen grown ups living in the bodies of children. That is, kids who turned 30 in their heads the day their bodies turned 10. They’re always so serious, so set to work every minute of every day. That just can’t be good.

Adulthood is filled with responsibilities and worries and deadlines, but that doesn’t mean we can’t just drop it all and just get a little goofy every once in a while. And, no, I’m not talking chemically enhanced goofiness, just letting your freak flag fly.

Take, for instance, my little vacation to Florida and Universal Studios. (I’ll stop rubbing this in soon. Promise.) My friends and I will be hitting an amusement park without our children. This is a place that was supposed to have been designed for the young and we old folks are going to be enjoying it more than they will.

Having juvenile fun is a great idea. Our bodies will never grow younger, unfortunately. However, our minds and our attitudes can change with the wind. We just have to remember what it was like during the summers of our childhoods, when school was out, our parents were working and we had the run of the street. Endless days, warm nights and a stack of empty Coke cans to kick over for hours.

So take a little time, with little dudes or not, and just have fun. Move your body and rejuvenate your mind.

– Richard

By the time you read these words, (and you are reading, right? I’m feeling the need for a little validation here.) I will be winging my way to sunny Florida for a little dudeless rest and relaxation. I’m going to be meeting up with three buddies from high school for some beach, some football, some beer, some conversation and a trip to Universal Studios Florida.

I’ll be thinking of you when I’m riding along at 70 mph upside-down and screaming. There will be screaming. A lot of screaming. We’re also headed over to Gainesville to watch my beloved Florida Gators (please, please, please, please) beat LSU. The past two national champs playing on the same field.

So, what does that mean for the site? Will we go dark while I’m out of town? No, not really. I mean, we could count on Barry for some content, but, well, he’s already had two posts up this past month and I think he’s worn out. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, we’ll still have lots of bloviating floating up on the site. I’ve got some posts already racked up and ready to go. I’ll also be checking in (probably late at night so forgive any spelling mistakes) every once in a while.

Until I’m back, ya’ll take care.

– Richard