There was a time when men were allowed to be men. No matter who he was, or the circumstances he was handed, a man could rely on what he knew about being a man to get him through. 

Being a man used to mean something. For generations, being a man meant having mettle, facing demands with resilience. You never needed much to be a man. 

It wasn’t about the dollars in your wallet or what was stored in your garage. It was having respect for all things, being humble, and loving your family. 

Chances are, if you were lucky enough to know him, your grandfather constantly reminded you how different things used to be. He believed there was no better smells than those of a well working machine and fresh tobacco. 

Growing up he shared how he proposed to your grandma three weeks after meeting her; the day before he went off to war. The man wouldn’t be caught dead in a dirty car. 

He was a firm believer in taking great pride in keeping things nice. 

Masculinity wasn’t an issue for him. He was simply a man.

  It’s about being ready, adapting to real life, and grasping the importance of being fit to be useful.