[Ed Note: Another contribution from one of the Hutchinson Brothers. God Bless these boys. They live their lives by their own rules and take no prisoners. In their parent's basement. It's all about respect.]

Let me explain this. It's simple. There's Strong. And then there's Ted Hutchinson Strong.

Strong is staying home and doing your assigned readings. Ted Hutchinson Strong is going out for Mike The Bike's Birthday even though you have an exam the next day. Out of respect. Because Mike the Bike can funnel three beers in 15 seconds. That's Ted Hutchinson Strong.

Strong is showing up for work on time every day, rain or shine. Ted Hutchinson Strong is having the fortitude of spirit, nay, the courage, to show up 6 hours late after Mike the Bike's Birthday reaking of jagermeister and grapefruit juice and telling Old Man Hutchinson that you had a doctor's appointment. That's Ted Hutchinson Strong.

Strong is learning a trade and making you family proud. Ted Hutchinson Strong is enrolling in college with your folk's money and withdrawing in two weeks, taking that money and flying to Nicaragua for the semester to organize cock fights in a dingy single level ranchero owned by Paco, the local mariachi, and eventually losing all your tuition money with your plane ticket home on a rigged fight between Rocky ChickBoa and Claude Van Cluck followed by a losing parking lot brawl with Paco and his associates who leave you bleeding in the dirt screaming 'I trusted you Paco! I trusted you!' And when you call your parents for flight money, crawling back to your basement apartment in Old Man Hutchinson's house in Kitsalano, and you are confronted by the very same Old Man who wons the house demanding to know where you have been and where his 'goddman money is you ungrateful welp', you have the courage to look that Old Man in the eye and say: "Dad If you can make one heap of all your winnings and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, and lose, and start again at your beginnings, and never breathe a word about your loss, yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son. Rudyard Kipling Dad, think about it." and then crawl into bed for some much needed sleep before your night shift at Hutchinson Hardware- that's Ted Hutchinson Strong.

Strong is keeping your body free of chemicals and intoxicants, to make the most out of this life. Ted Hutchinson Strong is being able to walk a straight line after a case of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Because one more DUI and you're going to jail. And though you you are Ted Hutchinson Strong you know you are not Jail Strong, as you are far too pretty. That's Ted Hutchinson Strong.

Strong is being able to stick through the tough parts of a relationship and reach a compromise with another human being. Ted Hutchinson Strong is having the discipline to stay home on saturday night and watch Showgirls starring Jessie Spano. Twice. That's Ted Hutchinson Strong.

Strong is living by your convictions and not letting the world chip away at your virtues, to be able to look into the eyes of any man and tell him the truth, no matter what. Ted Hutchinson Strong is looking Bob Catilano from work in the eye and saying "I had the craziest weekend, man you should have seen this girl I hooked up with" when you really watched Showgirls starring Jessie Spano. Twice. That's Ted Hutchinson Strong. A side strength is telling Old Man Hutchinson that Bob was the one who wrecked the forklifts and then consoling Bob after he is fired by saying "I have no idea how the Old Man found out. It couldn't have been me, I was riding the forklift with you, no way I would sell you out, I'd get fired too." That's Ted Hutchinson Strong.

Live your life by these rules, and you will never be without. As long as you live with your folks. Because I'm broke and couldn't really afford to live anywhere else. Until next fall's tuition money comes in. Thats going to be so sweet.

Love,

Ted Hutchinson.