The closest major airport to me is in Charlotte, a three-hour drive from our house in the

mountains of Boone, North Carolina. Traveling for storytelling, presentations, and workshops

takes me out there the most. But my favorite drives to Charlotte are when my kids come home.

I have six kids total. My son RJ lives in New York studying music. He graces us with

his presence mostly during the holidays. I'll try to speak into the mic, but you've got to put the

mic to me. Yes. So this is a conversation between me and my oldest son, RJ Christian, as we're

heading back to Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Yes, sir.

RJ and I have abstract conversations about how his life compares to the experiences I had in his age.

We talk a lot about what is required for him to level up in his field as a musician and in life.

All this is interlaced with my memories of him as a little boy and our ongoing Frank talks about what is like for him to grow into being a man.

What do you think masculinity is?

I have a friend who is a transgender man.

Before he transitioned, he came up to me and asked me, how do you feel masculinity?

And at that time, I didn't have an answer.

It was so weird.

Oh man, I've been a man for 21 years. Sure they have an answer.

I didn't know what to say.

My son grew up very differently than I did. In the obvious ways that most kids do, being of a very different generation than me.

But he was always an artistic kind of kid, very thoughtful and creative.

His creativity was encouraged growing up.

And RJ is having rights of passage in a more progressive space than I had in the Army 40-something years ago.

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