Peony Growing Instructions

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Double-Flowered Peonies

Men and Women and Hair

Men, Women and Body Hair

I've been thinking about the different standards American society assigns to men and women. Men can be as bald or as hairy as they want and are considered perfectly presentable. Women must be almost hairless except for their scalp hair and plucked eyebrows. This is not natural or fair, is it?

However, I notice that advertisers are telling men that unless they dye their hair and use certain shampoos women won't be attracted to them. In twenty years will American society demand that men also shave their body hair and wear makeup before they leave the house too?

But Mom, You Didn't Tell Me NOT To Do It!

While my kids were growing up, they occasionally did something naughty. I came into the kitchen one day and my 2 boys were sawing away at our utensil drawer with knives. I said, “Hey, you guys aren't supposed to cut the drawer!” They replied in innocent voices, “You didn't tell us NOT to cut the drawer!” Suddenly, I felt a wave of frustration, helplessness and overwhelming hilarity all at the same time. What they said was true. I didn't tell them not to cut the drawer! Was I supposed to think of everything they shouldn't do and tell them before they did it? That was impossible!

Those 2 boys are now grown up and wonderful young men. The drawer still has the knife wounds but I think of that moment fondly now.