Meandering mind

K9s awakened me around 1:30AM (potty/drink call) and I couldn't fall back asleep. So I lay in bed, enjoying the breeze and the quiet and just sort of let my mind meander. What an interesting way to spend time. I landed on recollections of a post from my g-son in which he objects to being labeled as a "boy" now that he has reached the remarkable vantage point of 13 years of age. I started thinking about what really makes a boy a man...when I would say in happens. Can't go for the physical hair/voice/nocturnal emmission/testosterone poisoning def, that's just adolescence. I don't buy into the Hollywood "coming of age" thing, where a good drunk and a sexual encounter help you make the grade. Don't buy into the ritual of some religions where they have a ceremony at 13 or so and come out saying "and now you are a man". But what is it? I was circling around some sort of responsibility/economic model, where you take responsibility for your actions and for economically supporting yourself and the others you've bonded with. But that wasn't enough, or in some ways too much. Too many exceptions came to mind. There has to be an emotional component, being able to discipline yourself without closing off the softer side of your emotions. Guess this is a hard question...maybe that's why there are volumes written on the subject. I suppose I'll have to not sleep on it again. In the meantime, I responded to the post by suggesting to my g-son that he do laundry and mow the lawn. Yep, that's me...caninegranny.