September 28, 2004

Brilliant. I'll bring the smoke and we can make ashes.

Enlist in the military.
THAT's a rite of passage.

In high school, I had the American Lit teacher. He didn't like me because I was a smartass, and my jokes were always better than his.

Anyway, he said something once that I've always remembered. The question before us was, "When does a boy become a man?" I know, extremely politically incorrect, but this was the 80's... anyway, there was lots of floundering for an answer, like you just said.

He said that he first felt like a man when he had to drive the family at 3am once, during a bad rainstorm. His wife and small children trusted him enough that they were all asleep. They needed a man to take care of things that night, and he was able to do what had to be done.

A boy becomes a man when he is needed as a man.

A Rite of Passage ? It has always been Deer hunting up here in Northern Rural Michigan. The applicant has to be 16 years old. Been trained for years in the Art of Gun Handling by an 'Ol Man that takes Gun responsibility VERY seriously ! As do the other hunters in the Family Opening Day Hunting Assembly. Grandpas and Uncles will be watching and evaluating the Neophytes performance. Neophytes performance reflects the " Ol' Mans " ability to properly instill values deemed Basic by the Family. 'Ol Man gets shamed by a Neophyte Dolt who pisses on his Teachers by not following the 'Rules of a Man".
A " Rules of a Man " day of showing respect of those more learned. A day of always being aware of the gun muzzle direction. A day of listening first, then offering an opinion of how to do a goal oriented procedure. This while being listened to by people who have passed the test, the youngest 25 years before. They listen but never comment. Just nod if the response is right ! The only reward is not being ignored.
It is a proceedure day of non-kid being for the neophyte. Finally, he is given the option of being listened to with a modicum of knowlege of his existance at the Council Meetings of his Elders. It is subtle, the acceptance. A smile. A statement of " Would you like to take this as your stand for today"? and be listened to as an adult. The transition from a " Kid with Brains" to a "Man with Acceptance" in the hierarchy of the Hunting Council.
This Day of Evaluation in this area back when I was a Neophyte was De Riguer. I passed it. I was let in on the thinking of the Elders. I felt humbled they would deign to treat me as an equal! I felt as though I could soar. I had listened to their wisdom over the years ! I could evaluate the information given to me. I could give up a Valued Hunting Position to those with age and a not-spoken-request for services rendered. And I would not chortle at those who could not stomp around the woods at 60 years old plus as they could at 20 years old .And other hunting gatherings after that would be colored by MY input. I would be welcomed . I would be an equal, earned rather than tolerated. A welcome addition to their group. I could be trusted.
Someday, I will hear the " Aroooooo" of ol' Tip , the mad hunting Beagle who passed to the Rabbit Laden Briar patch of Heaven 40 years ago. I will throw a young leg over the top wire on a two strand bob-wire fence , followed by the other leg, and walk a step or two to a certain point to get to a brown work jacket with a number of 20 guage shells in the pocket. A 20 guage full choke singleshot Iver-Johnson will be there waiting for me. I will drop a shell into the breech of that ol' gun, and I will join Dad, Grampa, Uncle Graydon in a line abreast as we follow all the dogs of our history searching for legitimate targets in the endless search for game in the Field called Infinity..
Hi On, Tip. Yo-Yo.

One eensy,teensy little detail you left out of the primitive tribal right of passage description. Of course it's a whopper.............You forgot the part with the ritual CIRCUMCISION,usually with a long sharp thorn,or piece of flint blade........Thank you, I'll stay with the High School graduation,or the deerhunting thanks.