One of the great experiences in my life was being charmed, flattered and bamboozled by the amazing poet James Broughton. I was at my hard-body workingman studliest; he was a wrinkled troll of 80. After a few minutes of his absolutely shameless poetic flimflam, I'd have willingly rolled over on the ground for him like a love-starved golden retriever bitch pup.

Then he stroked my tit and said "It's been very sweet, my boy." and walked away. I realized that as the expression goes "He'd had his way with me..." further that I'd liked it and wanted him to do it again; furthermore that he'd refined his skills as a romantic seducer, poet and storyteller to a fine art. He did do as he pleased with me, and I wanted more.

I realized suddenly that I wasn't always going to be studly. I'd better get my act together in the direction of being warm, deep, and wise if'n I wanted to be valued for who I was when the envelope of meat part got soft and wrinkled. Who was I going to be?

How could I behave so that the man I am inside could still be perceived? I'm happy with my life as constructed, it works for me now. I have both amusing and painful stories about what didn't work in my life and family. I am sincerely interested in knowing how you got to where you are now and who you are. It usually takes more than one word comments to convey that. At Thich Nhat Hanh's monastery in France they ask that question with "What wind blew you here?"

-- Brightheart