I’m on the road. Well… I don’t really have an option as I don’t have a house to live in like so many people in America. So here I am at a RV park on a lake near the Oregon Coast. It is beautiful here. Lush campgrounds, a welcoming lake, a sturdy dock, a little store, laundry facilities, a volleyball net, ducks and kids. Peaceful. Yes, even with the kids.

I was just outside, struggling a bit as I took the water hose off the rig. Wishing I had some pliers, or at least a f‘n clue as to how to get the lame-ass hose off the rig. Ugh. I managed alright but I don’t think that it really needed to feel so hard. I felt a jab of loneliness. I longed for help. I longed for companionship. I came inside the rig, kissed Zelda and thanked her for being my co-pilot though I secretly wished that she had thumbs so that she could take that lame-ass hose off the rig. When I sat up, I saw a man in the next campsite over explain to his son how to plug their rig in at the site. Tears instantly filled my eyes. What love! How beautiful that this man is passing along some pretty vital information so that he may teach his son and he his, and he his. Begat, begat, begat. Jab jab, came the loneliness. I instantly wanted to be that little kid. To be invited over to the sacred corner of the RV to talk about giving life to the vehicle that will be taking care of you for the duration of the adventure. What an honor!

Begat reminds me of the Bible. I always thought those with religion praised, respected and uplifted their families. Like they took the job of being a family man seriously. Fifteen plus hours a week volunteering with the church, ten percent tithing, religiously attending service if not presenting, playing the organ, teaching Sunday school, greeting the congregation. Sounds beautiful. How many of those fathers take their sons aside and say to them that women are temples and should be treated as such? How many of them are passing along that vital information to their sons? Jab jab, comes the loneliness. I’ve dated a few sons of pastors. I’ve been victimized by a few sons of pastors. When men are trying so hard to fit into the hierarchy of the institution, sometimes their families take a backseat. This has repercussions. Men, talk to your children about the important things in life. Like how important their mother is and how women are beautiful creatures that deserve respect and love, dammit. Much like they themselves. If you don’t, your son will feel the jab of loneliness. The women in your life will feel the jab of loneliness. Much like you secretly feel the jab of loneliness when left to your own thoughts, Men. Jab jab.