Ahead of the pack!

My parents had me circumcised when I was born in 1942. I guess it was unusual at the time, at least in our small town in southern USA. When I was little I didn't understand why my penis looked different from my father's and those of all the other little boys I had seen. After it was explained to me I was a bit resentful about being made the odd one, although I was never teased about it, and I thought mine was better looking than theirs without that wrinkly skin hose hanging off the end.

A few years later I learned that most of the little boys were now being circumcised when they were born. Then I was proud of my circumcised penis. It made me feel up-to-date, cultured and civilized. I enjoyed being in situations where other boys could see my penis. We didn't talk about it, but I imagined they were admiring the appearance of mine, perhaps wishing that theirs were the same.

When some of my contemporaries had to be circumcised for medical reasons around the time of puberty I was really glad that was something I did not have to worry about. I really appreciated then what my parents had done for me when I was a baby.

After I left the home town for college and military service I learned that circumcision was much more common than I had previously supposed. The incidence for men my age appeared to be about 50%. (And of course higher for those a few years younger.)

When I became a father I had no hesitation about having my sons circumcised at birth. By then it was the normal thing to do. My penis looks good, feels good and works fine; and I'm sure they feel the same way about theirs. They had their sons circumcised when they were born.

JH     

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