Entering The Man Cave

There I was, taking my rightful place in The Man Cave. It's a time honored Flemmons family tradition. At family gatherings, the adult men seclude themselves in a back room and talk manly talk and drink manly drinks.
This was my turn in the cave. It was my initiation. The occasion was solemn, yet joyful. Sandy's grandmother passed away Aug. 13. Her funeral was on the 16th. Family came from as far away as Alaska (THE biggest state in the union, by the way).
It was the first time in many years that the family had gathered in such numbers. It was sad to lay Grandma to rest but we all took great comfort in knowing that she is in the arms of our Lord and we'll some day be reunited with her.
Of course, having a few days for a reunion was a joyous time. There were many fond memories of Grandma shared and more memories of family in the making. My best memory will be The Man Cave. The Cave was Grandy's bedroom. Us guys gathered there. Grandy, uncles Jimmy and Steve, cousin Zeke, Pop and me. We sipped brandy and talked about old times. OK, being the newest to the clan, I just listened.
Whenever one of the women would enter the room, they could tell they were in a place they didn't belong. Of course, the comments about "diluted testosterone levels" and "women not allowed" probably served as a pretty good clue.
The children stayed away, in large part because man talk is boring compared to video games and water balloon fights.
From what I learned, The Man Cave is a tradition that goes way back on the Flemmons side. I felt deeply honored to have been made a part of the tradition. Apparently the tradition goes all the way back to the days of actual cavemen, or Grandy's childhood, whichever is longer. The men have always hidden in a back room, talked about manly stuff, scratched in manly places, made manly bodily noises and consumed less than manly quantities of manly drinks (hey, we're Christians, can't be getting schnockered, ya know).
Even though I didn't have much to contribute, I did come away with a better understanding and deeper appreciation of my wife's family. I learned without a doubt they really are nuts. More than that, I fit in perfectly.
I look forward to the time when I climb the patriarchal ladder and invite my own sons into The Man Cave. I also look forward to the time someone tells me what a patriarchal ladder is. In the meantime, I'll just enjoy being one of the guys. May God bless us all and have pity on our wimmin.