Jun 21, 2009

The Men In Our Lives

Count on Esquire to publish a kick-ass essay that begs to ask the question - What Is a Man? Author Tom Chiarella set pretty high standards. He's quite specific too. Here's how he starts:

A man carries cash. A man looks out for those around him — woman, friend, stranger. A man can cook eggs. A man can always find something good to watch on television. A man makes things — a rock wall, a table, the tuition money. Or he rebuilds — engines, watches, fortunes. He passes along expertise, one man to the next. Know-how survives him. This is immortality. A man can speak to dogs. A man fantasizes that kung fu lives deep inside him somewhere. A man knows how to sneak a look at cleavage and doesn't care if he gets busted once in a while. A man is good at his job. Not his work, not his avocation, not his hobby. Not his career. His job. It doesn't matter what his job is, because if a man doesn't like his job, he gets a new one.

You can read the rest here.

As one funny commenter put it: Where can I order this man? In my case, God and fate were good and delivered them to me. Well, not a hundred percent the man the essay talks about. That just wouldn't be interesting or entirely relevant. Like, I don't really care if a man orders himself a sauvignon blanc.
Still, the men in my life lick all of Chiarella's paragraph above and come quite close to the rest of his essay's litany of attributes. But if I may add, there's even more to these great men:
A man embraces fatherhood for all its wonders and tumultuousness - courtesy of a somewhat loony daughter. That's my Pa. He would stop a speeding train for me.

A man finds utter joy in being a dad. That's Pappy, father of my babies.

A man gets all excited and proud when his 5-year-old son discovers a new passion in playing the drums. That's Pappy again, being really cool and melting my heart.

Oh and attention please Nana. I must say, as witness to the many guys who lined up at your door, you chose the man for you. Thank God. At times you had me worried. Haha! But I can relax now.

A good father is a good man. Now let's celebrate their day and make them believe that kung fu lives inside them. Because really... it does.

10 comments:

Nana said...

Nona, maybe you and I should order that sauvignon blanc and thank our lucky stars!
Oh, and I love the photo with your Pa

Nona said...

cheers!

photo of me circa 80s... thank god i look so much better than that now.

Nona said...

oops photo is circa 70's pala... getting old and delusional!

Cely said...

Dear Nona, Dear Nana,

What gifted writers you both are! I absolutely LOVED your two posts. Thank you for your thoughtful, poignant words. The men in your life are blessed to have you, and for being celebrated like that.

Happy Father's Day to all fathers around the World!

PS: I also loved your old pictures! Priceless!

Barni Alunan-Escaler said...

Thank God we married the men we needed. Can you imagine if we married the men we deserved? Ha ha ha!

Nona said...

Barn... you totally deserve THE MAN that is Mark. At least most of the time : ) haha! Be good to your man dearie...

Cely... always too nice! Thank you and enjoy celebrating Father's Day there in Switzerland.

Corazon Angeles said...

I read this blog with great interest and find it's positive tone quite refreshing. It seems both blogger-Mamas are parents to boys and it will be interesting too for me to know what it entails to bring up sons in an environment where manliness seems to be a bad word? Thanks for sharing your blogs - T. Chona

Nona said...

Thank you for dropping by Tita Chona. We'd like our boys to re-define the bad connotation : )

JavyO said...

'Oh and attention please Nana. I must say, as witness to the many guys who lined up at your door, you chose the man for you. Thank God. At times you had me worried. Haha! But I can relax now.'

Hahahahaha! Nice one Neaks! I sure hope they don't read that :)

Nona said...

Javy... bring on the offended ex boyfriends and ex manliligaws :P