Spain - Portugal 2001 (2)

Hey... god, I feel like shit. Sorry, but I was just sitting here, checking messages and writing a few and all of a sudden I felt like puking. I will still go through with this but it may be brief.. went out with the fam last night, downed a few too many rum and cokes and almost got up on Karoke, if that tells anything.. I never do Karoke.. I would damn near clear the place I fear.. anyway, I don't know if this is hangover puke, too-hot-in-here puke or last night's dinner coming to haunt me.. ughh.

Right. So, I just wanted to touch on the subject of Circumcision for a minute. My aunt Nancy, cousin Catherine, uncle Louis and I were talking about something random, and I saw this naked toddler walk by and it reminded me about what Finland told me about...how no boys in Finland get Circumcised.. well, in Europe actually, except the Jewish or those that had to for health reasons.. Well, being American, I was shocked. I just never knew. She (Finland), on the other hand, was shocked to know that the majority are 'done' in the USA. She has never seen one, American style.. :) So, I mentioned that to my kin.. 'Does everyone in Ireland really not get circumcised?'... Of course they don't. Well, my aunt Nancy might be near 60 and my telling her that the Americanos almost all do without question was a shocker. She never in her life knew that... not to mention the fact that it is barely a consideration... you don't think much about it, you just do it.. Well, not everyone.. You know I have all these new age hippy friends (smiles) that battle with that one, but so many just let the doctor take the wee lad away and cut him.

So, this brings me to my point. Many of my friends recently had baby boys and many of them were torn to pieces about the decision. Some of the cons to not being done are...being the odd one out among your friends, awkward moments with American girlfriends, cleanliness (which should be a non issue), and not looking like dad. The pros are ... well, not having to have it be done in the first place. (this one guy who was done said he felt that it was a sexual violation on him and it has carried emotional repercussions for him in life.. whether this is possible or not.. but, he had a boy and did not have it done, nor did he or his wife have to think twice about it.. No way, no question) It's amazing how many people... in conversations about this, were so strongly on one side of the fence or the other.. mostly on the side for having it done... But lord.. now that I am here in Europe surrounded by sooooo many men that haven't had it done, seeing all the healthy relationships, seeing that no one is dying of infection.. obviously... well, it just isn't necessary! And I am saying all this rubbish in case any of you are on the way to having a boy. Just do some research. All that fitting in business is rough, maybe, but they can always take a girl from Europe! ;) In retrospect, maybe it's even bordering on barbaric and, while 9.9 out of 10 of you boys on this list have been done and are glad for it...(ask yourself why.. it's the norm, that's it) just know that they don't all get done and seeing one undone is NOT freak wierd or anything! It's ok... and it's ok if your boy isn't like you...

Don't worry. I'm not taking this up as oneof my platforms or anything. The animals keep me busy enough.. but, just remember that the world is big and the USA is small in comparison and maybe all that knifing of baby penises is just not necessary. It would be a hard decision for me to make... I know, how could it be after having gone off about it being unnecessary.. but, you know.. it's our culture. it's just a strange part of it.. why us, why in a country so full of people from all over the world where it was never done, did we become a country.. one of the only ones to do it? My friend Jenny had her second boy recently. She had both her boys done... she didn't want to but her husband wouldn't let it slide and she let it be up to him as he is the Father.. anyway, the first boy was taken from her and done in another room with no option given to her that she be with him.. She demanded with the second and they protested adamantly until they realized she wouldn't let it go. She wanted to be there, holding his hand.. How many of you know if your mom had a choice or if it was just done? Why the hell am I talking about this?! I think I must still be drunk! And, no offense to any new moms and dads who did it.. it's a tough decision and fitting in is important in America and here! Finland, the sweet child she is.. and I thought so innocent,apparantly saw her first one after she left me.. One from New Jersy while she was in France.. go girl. She had to let me know cause we were both laughing about how funny it was that each others' boys and girls were just used to one way and the other would be so bizzarre.. Ohmigawd.. i'm officially out of my head. Bye.