I was fortunate to have had the guidance of my grandmother, who gave me the early foundation to place my building blocks upon, and from whence to stand tall. She will forever serve as an example of how reliable love and a strong emotional compass can accomplish so much more than strict prescription or accountability without recognition.

Someone said that to spare the rod was to spoil the child, and he became famous for saying that. If sparing the rod is somehow contrary to the positive reinforcement I had when growing up, then I am at odds with the famous proverb. As with most sayings, it becomes popular with statistically half of the populationthe ones that support the same notion. Its the same principle that pits Chevys versus Fords in for-men-only conversations, causes Democrats to curse Republicans, and makes the coin toss come up fifty-percent heads.