Scott Blanding
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| I walk with you |
I walk with you. Sometimes I run ahead. I sense your distance and run back. You hold me. At night you read to me. The world is full of adventure and wonder, and you are my faithful guide. I ask questions about fire trucks, dogs, trains, and insects. I ask about family, the ocean, Jesus, life, death. What does this word mean? What does that word mean? My questions are endless. We’re best friends. The ball skips across the grass. Kids pull towards it like a magnet. I score three goals. My biggest fan is always there. I join more teams, but don’t always want to go. Commitment is hard. But I know what it looks like. We don’t use some words. Mouth washed out with soap and then timeout in my room. I play with action figures. They love women, and fight for them in their imaginary battles. I color with smelly markers while you bake a cake. You write my name on my hand with frosting. I have a fever. You make me soup. You sing to me. When I fall asleep you are there. When I wake up you are there. I know what love is.
You’re not my friend’s little sister
anymore. We drive together to get
smoothies after school. We listen to
music. I’ll even listen to “girl”
songs. You listen patiently to all my
complaints in life. I notice
something. You have the prettiest smile
I’ve ever seen. I don’t know how to
type. I learn so I can respond quicker
on instant messenger. Typing class is
boring, but I would read the phone book every morning if it meant I could spend
the rest of the day with you. I find
something I didn’t know was missing. The
world is full of excitement and the unknown.
“Togetherness” with you is something new, yet familiar. We’re best friends. We watch movies. We have picnics by the creek. On someone’s private property? Oops!
We have nothing-fights. I treat
you poorly. You forgive me. We have more nothing-fights. Grace is hard. But I know what it looks like. We laugh. We dance. You kiss my hand. When I fall asleep I think of you. When I wake up I think of you. I leave for college. I know what love is.
You’re a twinkle in my eye. Your mother and I dream about you. You walk with me. The bells on your shoes jingle when you run. You turn and smile. I could hold you forever. At night I read to you. We make up stories. We’re best friends. We build sandcastles. Ocean water breaks over your legs for the
first time and you giggle. The world is
full of mystery, and we discover it together.
I replace the money in my wallet with pictures of you. I’d run through a brick wall for you. Ants come through the window and crawl on
your grandmother’s face. You climb onto
her bed to brush them off and kiss her sweetly.
You play nicely with others. You
share your toys. I think about the
future. Boys. If only I could scare them all away and keep
you to myself. Unselfishness is
hard. But I know what it looks
like. I cry occasionally for no
particular reason. You make fun of
me. I’m getting older. You’re getting older! Admittedly, you are a mystery that I
understand less and less every day. I
give you more space. When you fall
asleep I am here. When you wake up I am
here. I know what love is.
Mothers, sisters, first loves,
daughters. Women leave an indelible mark
on the lives of all men. They teach us
to love, and remind us what love is in every phase of our lives. Violence against women, and the oppression of
their rights, is the most unnatural behavior a man can possess. It betrays the very foundation of life, quite
literally the source from which we all come.
As “Real Men” we cannot accept injustice against women as the natural
way of things. We must identify the ways
young men today are learning such behavior is acceptable, and combat these
poisonous ideas with truth and love. As
a human race we must unite behind the idea that oppressing women is never
called for. Never OK. It will be a struggle, but with the right
commitment, a lot of grace, and enough unselfish hearts, we can make violence
against women a distant memory.
Scott Blanding is originally from Roanoke
Virginia and graduated from Temple University with a degree in Film and
Media Arts. Scott and his friend Brad work together at
their company which aims to tell stories about marginalized people
through media – Made Known LLC. Scott is a man who believes in the
importance of standing up for women and is brave enough to do something
real to change the world.