Seven sisters and three brothers along with two cows, two horses, a few pigs, dozens of chickens, a dog, cats multiplying like rabbits made for a childhood filled with chores, games, responsibilities and a lifetime of change. Being born in the middle of that clan was a definite advantage for me. I believe a good balance of building blocks which helped develop the person I am today came from having older siblings to look up to and younger ones who looked up to me. Growing up in a large family has many benefits to offer for the social development, physical awareness and general character traits of a person.
             Humans, like many in the animal kingdom are sociable beings dependent on each other for friendship, direction, and our basic need of feeling loved. Dealing with the opposite sex as we grow has an impact on how we will treat our wife and respond to her needs as provider, lover and friend. Having seven sisters afforded me the ability to recognize the needs of the female and how to respond to their ever changing moods. As we develop friendships with neighborhood kids we learn how to communicate, share ideas and express ourselves. I was fortunate to grow up in a well-mixed area with enough boys to play many different sports and enough girls to enjoy the odd birthday party with dancing I'm so embarrassed! I was basically a shy boy but was able to enjoy a variety of male and female friendships.
             Being active in sports helped to round out my childhood mixed with hard work and hard play. Football with no pads was not for the weak or fearful.
             The only hockey equipment I had was two life magazines tied to my shins with those red rubber canning jar lid seals. My father not being a stranger to hard work, figured we might as well learn young that nothing worth having comes easily. Hoisting bales of hay and straw into the mound was as good a weightlifting exercise as any machine known to man. Bowflex ha
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