I was invited to a Governor's Luncheon as a Board member of APAPA, and although Arnold’s propositions to balance the budget went down in defeat, he still was upbeat and said the Great State of California "will be back". He had just arrived from Washington in a private jet rushing to get to our meeting and talked about the challenges that faced us.
He told us a wonderful story about how as a young 14 year old boy he was inspired by a Japanese weight lifter who he watched win his match and then later that week also won the title of Mr Universe. As inspiration, he would have posters of him as well as other well oiled men with bulging muscles hanging on his bedroom wall. He told us how his dream was to someday be and look like them.
One day, his mother walked into his room, saw the posters on his wall and with a tear in her eye, shook her head and asked herself "where did I go wrong?"
"A 14 year old boy should have naked women, not half naked men on his wall".
Perhaps this is where his phrase “Girlie Men” came from
At least he has a great sense of humor and I got to shake Arnold's hand twice!
