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The Measure of a Man

September 8th, 2008 by Bryan Allain | Filed under life.

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My friend Elsbeth (aka Elf, as she is known by her friends) posted this quote on her blog today:

A man should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

- Robert Heilein

I think I hit about 13 of the 21, and that was being generous.

What about you? (or your man)? How do you measure up?

(h/t: http://elsbe.wordpress.com/)

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14 Responses to “The Measure of a Man”

  1. Nate Blevins | 8/09/08

    First off, I didn’t know she had a new blog. Second I can say i can accomplish maybe 13 as well.

  2. Bryan Allain | 8/09/08

    Nate, just because you tore your achilles on a folding chair rack doesn’t mean you can set a bone. Better knock that down to 12, amigo.

  3. buddy watts | 8/09/08

    I got 14…

  4. buddy watts | 8/09/08

    Make that 16

  5. Nate Blevins | 8/09/08

    Ligaments, bones, there sort of the same thing.

  6. jon decker | 8/09/08

    i can do all of the those things, but the real issue here is why that woman’s husband let her near the computer interweb machine.

  7. Bryan Allain | 8/09/08

    if you’re talking about Elf, she’s not married. If you’re attributing that quote to a woman…well, yeah, I think you hit that one on the head.

  8. Geof F. Morris | 8/09/08

    14, and Heinlein was a kook.

  9. jon decker | 8/09/08

    Erin says I shouldn’t type sarcasm.

  10. Bryan Allain | 8/09/08

    that’s because she can neither build a wall nor butcher a hog. but she can plan an invasion, so you better listen to her.

  11. Geof F. Morris | 8/09/08

    Oh, I guess I should go to 15. I’ve set my broken pinky a half-dozen times now.

  12. Ron Davis | 9/09/08

    14ish.

  13. Bryan Allain | 9/09/08

    Ron, since you’re a Yankees fan who has to watch that starting rotation that the Bombers throw out there night after night, make sure you count “pitching manure” in there as well. That might get you up to 15ish.

  14. Ron Davis | 9/09/08

    I’d argue, but you make a good point. I say you should never count them out, but at this point in the season, you can probably start thinking about counting them out.

    Oh, and I’m sure I’m not the only one to offer this “what if”, but what if we get a 2008 World Series between the Dodgers and the Red Sox? Manny going back to Fenway would be an interesting thing to see.

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