So you're losing the fight...

I’m not sure what exactly made me think of this, but I’ll be 40 years old next month, and I’ve never in my life been in a fight, a physical altercation. I’ve had my fair share of arguments, verbal fights, but never anything physical.

I can remember one time, I was probably about 11 or so, and I was at the Fish & Game (there was small lake there with a small beach, and you could go there to swim). I was by the concession stand, and this kid, and I have no idea who he was now, but I knew him then. He came up to me and told me that he decided he was gonna beat me up. Just punch me until I fell down and then he’d kick me.

Even though I was big for age, both in height and weight, all through my childhood, I’m basically a coward at heart, and I didn’t want to fight. I didn’t even really know HOW to fight. So what I said to him was, "You could fight me, but you know you’re gonna beat me. It’s not even a challenge, I’m not even worth your time. But you see that kid over there? He’s tough, that might be worth your time."

The kid I had indicated was Mark Powell, who was in my grade. He was a redhead (which even at that age made me notice him) but he was scrappy, a tough guy, and an athlete (Little League) and since I was neither scrappy nor and athlete, he and I really never talked about much of anything.

So, anyway, the bully marched right over to Mark. And there was a fight. Not then, at the Fish & Game, but later, in the city park. I heard Mark had kicked his ass by the tennis courts. And I could only think, it serves him right.

See, I’m a coward, and I’ve never been in a fight, BUT I do have a brain and I know how to use to keep me from being in a fight. I just think that if I were attacked now, and could not talk my way out of it, I’d probably just drop to a fetal position and scream my fool head off. Which isn’t really what I’d WANT to do…but knowing myself, it’s probably what I WOULD do.

Oh well…I am what I am….

POLT

Listening to "Invincible" by Muse