I was quiet, sensitive, and nonathletic from the get-go, and I cared little for typical boy things, like playing outside, running, or throwing balls at people. I much preferred to watch television, color with crayons, or play with my collection of G.I. Joe, Ken, and Six Million Dollar Man dolls. It was right around second grade that I consciously trained myself never to show a dangling or limp wrist in public. And I learned early on that the best protection from mean boys was having a tough, fearless girl like my best friend Terri around me.
