The Age-Old Debate of Strength vs. Grace

This summer has featured many rounds of a game called, "Battle Tops." My kids, my husband and I regularly crowd around a tiny arena-type playing board and -- employing the high-tech method of "Ready...Set...Go!" -- we each pull our string to send our tops spinning into combat with one another. The rules are simple yet brutal: last top standing, winner takes all.

An interesting piece of flair in this game is that each top has a name printed on it. The choices are pretty butch, including "Hurricane Hank," "Dangerous Dan," and "Cyclone Sam." But there is an exception to this macho vibe.

One top is named "Twirling Tim."

This seems hardly fair. Tim could have been named "Tornado Tim" after all. That would carry on the destructive nature theme that Sam and Hank have already established. "Terrible Tim" would make sense along side "Dangerous Dan." But no, Tim is to assert his ability to twirl.

The result is that Tim is never picked by the males in my family. Not very hard to imagine, I know -- but it pisses me off. So, I have become defiant in that I now call dibs on Tim. He does win...occasionally. But I can't help but feel sorry for the little guy. Is it his fault he is the way he is? Is there any harm in twirling any how?

Grace does have its power, after all.