and she comforted me when the rough world of the male became too much of a struggle. To be sure, maternal comfort and a degree of protection is desirable, but if not seasoned with a few bare facts and truths about life, then it assumes the role of refuge from anything which is unpleasant by affording shelter to a fantasy which has been shattered by realism.

In the opposite corner is the man labeled "Father". He is a man with a sensitive soul,. but one who was raised under the iron fist of a dictatorial mother. This, and the fact that for many years my Father was an infantry officer, was a great injustice to him. I regard this as tragic, because he is basically a kind and compassionate man, but one who is absorbed in his own little world of system, perfection and blind obedience to orders which, no doubt is the mark of a good military man. In his endeavor to be a good soldier, he felt that these traits were a basic necessity and further, it would be well to instill these fundamentals in the children, in order that they would lead a "well organized" life. Needless to say, I found the "refuge" of my Mother to be more SOO- thing. I had to make the choice of taking refuge or standing "Court Martial".

By the time I was out of diapers, I was terrified of my father and so, throughout my childhood, I avoided him whenever possible. I was forever being "chewed out" for not "moving out", "falling in" or reporting on the double in dress blues at the bark of a command. Na- turally, failure on my part resulted in the choice of "going directly to jail or not passing go" or seeking re- fuge. Due to this type of up-bringing, I don't know whether or not I love my Father because I have never been able to get close enough to him. If, however; now that I have a way of life, I obeyed an order bellowed forth to report "on the double", it would really flip the Major as I double-gaited into C.P. resplendent in "Blue Dress" and heels, complete with good conduct and occ- upation medals tinkling from my charm bracelet.

Here you see two parental extremes, which I hope will be food for thought to a mother or father who may read this.

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