pre-teen years
Most of my early childhood is a distant memory, and though I do remember bits and pieces of
it, I do not recall any instances of wearing any articles of my Mother's or neighbor ladies. So I
guess that shoots down the theory that we all start this at a young age. However, I do recall with
clarity the fact that I did, indeed, enjoy the company of girls more than boys as I was growing up.
My parents had friends that had two daughters that I just loved playing with, and most of those
activities were inside the home, with no balls or toy guns around, as the boys mostly played with. I
developed a very strong desire to play with them, so much so, that after a bit of time, my parents
basically told me that I should cool it so as not to wear out my welcome.
During those formative years, I was a very chubby boy and was made fun of by most of the
rest of the boys and they chose not to include me in their antics, which did affect me inside, causing
me to withdraw and I contented myself with playing in my backyard with my toys, not wanting to
associate with those that hurt my feelings.
I had an older brother and my father took him under his wing and I mostly was with my
mother. I don't think I would have been classified as the typical mommy's boy since I was anything
but small and fragile, it was just the way things worked out in our family.
Consequently, I learned many things at a young age that most males don't learn until they are
grown up and some never seem to learn. Cooking, cleaning, laundry and ironing clothes to name a
few things I had all down pat by the time I was ten years old. For some reason, learning how to
do those things appealed to me and I liked to do them. And in my adult life, it has come in handy
in life.