Sometimes there are just those other things in life that take priority over others. Sometimes there are those things that distract you into putting more time into them than into others. Sometimes . . . ok, you get the idea, I haven't been posting to this blog in a little while.
It is amazing, however, how fast time goes by when you keep busy at work or having fun.
This past weekend, I donned my Civil War era duds and took a trip with a good friend down to Point Lookout State Park, in Maryland to meet up with others history dorks for the weekend. After I got home on Sunday, I thought on how, in recent history, I hadn't spent this much time with "just the guys" in quite a while. (We had a few spectators come by who were female, but all the reenactors were male)
I can't imagine what it would've been like to step into the barracks as an outsider to the event. The smells and sounds alone were probably like nothing else nature or man could have created in any other setting. You could argue "Well, that's just called a fraternity house!". Perhaps, but only after the addition of tobacco and fire smoke, moist wool and beans all set inside a drafty wooden building.
What I think I gleaned the most from the weekend was the fulfilling sense of camaraderie between fellow males. All backgrounds of religion, politics, ethnicity, etc. etc. were set aside. Our common interest in a time period and portraying it accurately (including the willingness to subject our bodies to every aspect of it) acted as the glue.
While every hobby has it's vices to avoid or be moderate around (alcohol and smoking stands out in this), I would truly relish the chance to share this sort of experience with Ben; an old fashion form of bonding and friendship, not contingent on internet speed or text messages, only on who you happen to be standing near or singing with or sharing a flask with.
You might ask, "OK Matt, but what if you took those vices out of the mix? Can this sort of 'old fashion bonding' still take place?" In my case, yes, because I already do it without them. At least once a month I get together with other history dorks to sew. Yes . . . to SEW! Talk about the opposite of the description of last weekend! Again, an activity based on being around each other, working together, sharing information and, many times, laughs. I want Ben to experience this style of bonding as well.
I'll close with this thought: Some might argue that taking my son to a sporting event or watching a game with him and some buddies is a better way to bond. I fail to see how guys getting together, eating wings and other junk food, drinking cheap beer, all the while yelling at a TV screen is a better place for my son to witness camaraderie than my past weekend. I already have small regrets in having already had him witness the belligerence and drunkenness at baseball games we've been to.
Indeed, any scenario can play out to show our children vices and the black eyes of men and their actions. That's reality and history.
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