| While mulling over what to talk about in
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| | with such courtesy it borders on
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| my last blog, my husband had a suggestion
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| | gallantry. Not even my husband (don't
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| I found irresistible! More joking than
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| | tell him I said this!) is as courteous
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| serious, he said, "Why don't you talk
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| | and mannerly as they are.
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| about the sex appeal of older men, and
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| | They aren't pretty boys. Far from it.
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| call it 'Who's Your Daddy'?"
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| | They carry themselves with an aura of
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| He never thought I would take him
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| | masculinity that can only be achieved
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| seriously. Well, as you can see, I did.
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| | with years of self sufficiency. Being a
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| By older, I am specifically talking about
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| | sailor is not an easy life. Hard work and
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| men past fifty. Yes, I have an eye for
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| | hard living show on their faces, rugged
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| young stud puppets, cut and lean sex
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| | character etched in every line. Perhaps
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| machines! But many of those to die for
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| | they wouldn't be considered classically
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| men look that way to attract other men.
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| | handsome. They are nonetheless attractive
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| Although nice to ogle, it's rather like
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| | in their manliness, maturity and
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| pressing your nose against the candy
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| | individuality.
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| store window. Drooling over the goodies
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| | In our youth oriented culture, it is a
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| is as far as you get.
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| | refreshing reminder to know that sex
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| The rugged virility I am talking about in
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| | appeal doesn't diminish as the birthday
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| older men I know about first hand.
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| | candles increase. Both men and women
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| Working in the shipping industry as long
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| | remain sexual beings for as long as the
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| as I have, I know sailors. These are not
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| | fire burns inside. I have every intention
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| Navy sailors, they are Merchant Mariners.
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| | of keeping my fire stoked for many more
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| They have spent a good part of their
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| | years. I think my sailor friends feel the
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| lives on commercial ships, sailing all
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| | same way.
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| over the world. Once they came ashore,
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| | As a final note, the piece below
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| they continued to work with ships in a
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| | eloquently summarizes how I feel about my
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| variety of roles.
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| | life, and my writing.
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| Because of the requirements of my job, I
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| | In 1981, Lena Horne did a one woman
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| have to travel occasionally. I have been
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| | Broadway show called "Lena Horne - The
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| to Singapore, Tokyo, Copenhagen,
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| | Lady and her Music." In the show, she
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| Barcelona and Norway. In all of these
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| | referred to herself as a late bloomer. I
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| places, I have met sailors. I've talked
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| | find I am appreciating her comment more
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| to them, drank with them and been
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| | now than I ever have before.
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| accepted by them. They've told me stories
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| | Early in the show, she sang her signature
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| that have made me laugh until the tears
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| | song "Stormy Weather", much like she sang
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| ran. In fact, I'm writing an anthology
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| | it in the movie. Late in the show's
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| called Hello, Sailor which will be
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| | second half, she announced her next
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| released sometime in 2008. It is a
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| | number by saying ''I had to grow into
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| collection of three novellas based upon
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| | this song.''
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| the stories I've been told by my sailor
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| | And then what does she do? She sings
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| friends.
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| | ''Stormy Weather'' all over again. Only
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| These men are career mariners. They are
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| | this time she sings it as if she had just
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| strong individuals, free wheeling,
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| | grown into it, as if she had never sung
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| opinionated, wickedly funny, and sexy.
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| | it before. The words poured out of her,
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| Most of all - God bless them - they LOVE
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| | with a gospel fervor that covered her,
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| women! You might be surprised to hear
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| | and the audience, with sweat and tears.
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| that they not only love women, they
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| | I am growing into my song as Lena did
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| respect women. Of course they tell dirty
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| | hers, learning to sing it all over again,
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| jokes! They're sailors after all. But
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| | in a new way, with a new perspective. Who
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| whenever I have socialized with them,
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| | knew it could be this good!
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| individually or in a group, I am treated
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|
